Antique French Sommelier's Tastevin - Silver Plate

"The sommelier would taste just a small amount," Patricia explains, "and because of the silver, he could see the color in all its variation." This antique silver-plated tastevin came from Patricia and Walter's Paris apartment, and it carries with it the whole ritual of serious wine service — most likely made in Burgundy, where the tradition of the sommelier's tasting cup runs deepest. A small oval thumb-plate extends from the rim as a handle, and the bowl invites swirling with an array of patterns. A tastevin like this looks as considered on a shelf or sideboard as it did in a cellar. Display it alongside other wine-related objects, or use it as a salt cellar or small condiment dish at the table — a piece that connects daily life to a long tradition of French craftsmanship and the pleasure of wine.