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🦐 Shrimp heads, snail shells, chicken feet and fish bones... Many puzzling subjects for this mosaic! It adorns the pavement of the triclinium of a Roman villa, built at the time of Emperor Hadrian. To understand, you must imagine a luxurious banquet. The guests, taking their meal lying down, throw carelessly the reliefs on the ground, in offering to the souls of the dead. It was then a bad omen to sweep away these remains... The theme of the "asarotos oikos" or "unswept ground" arose from this delicate issue, where symbol and hygiene oppose. It was invented by one of the most famous mosaicists of Antiquity, Sosos of Pergamon, and shortly became quite popular. Indeed, it allowed the host to keep his floor clean and show his wealth through the representation of expensive and varied dishes. For artists, it was an opportunity to have fun with these trompe-l’œil creations where sometimes even a mouse slips in, but also to pay tribute to the deceased, often depicted in the form of elegant white doves 🕊️
About L'Institut Bernardaud:
Because the French art of living is the envy of the world, what better way than with porcelain to introduce you to the teeming world of the table... Contribute with L'Institut Bernardaud to reenchanting this convivial and so precious moment of the meal by following our various workshops and conferences. A program with a creative approach and open to the world to live an exciting adventure at the crossroads of gastronomy, art, history or decoration.
