Grand Pot Chocolate, En Cuivre. Chaud Rangé d'Un R Couronné. Au XVIIIe Siècle.

The elegant pear-shaped belly, forged, assembled by crenellated brass brazing, rests on 3 bronze feet, arched, riveted on a plate cut into a parsley leaf. Side handle in turned wood, taken in a socket with a quadrilobed plate. Old whisk, probably reported. Hinged lid, with a degree, with a whisk hole with a pivoting shutter. On the outside bottom: hallmark with a crowned R. Height of the lid: 25 cm. Period: 18th century. Very good condition. Free shipping by COLISSIMO for mainland France. Hallmark with a crowned R on which we have already spoken at length. After observing more than 120 objects bearing this hallmark, we reiterate our hypothesis that it would indeed be a tax hallmark, contemporary with the crowned C (1745-1749), available like this in 3 sizes, and concerning the most diverse objects, in copper, bronze or brass, without taking into account the quality of their execution, or their resale price. Introduced into France around 1670, through the intermediary of Queen Maria Theresa of Austria, wife of Louis XIV, chocolate, a luxury product, would become very fashionable under the Regency. It was then attributed therapeutic, stimulating, fortifying, and even aphrodisiac qualities... Its preparation as a drink required a ceremony, and the essential use of the chocolate pot, in silver for the wealthy classes, in porcelain or copper for the modest (who nevertheless had sufficient means to buy the cocoa paste prepared by grocers and apothecaries).