Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier

A fresh focus on Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier, the genius goldsmith, designer, and radical forerunner of Rococo style—and his most iconic work

A silver tureen in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, designed in the 1730s by Juste-Aure`le Meissonnier (1695–1750) for Evelyn Pierrepont, Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull, epitomizes Rococo style for its movement, asymmetric design, organic unity of form and ornament, and natural elements. It is a brilliant sculpture rather than a functional vessel, considered one of the most important objects in the history of European decorative arts. It is also one of the few surviving examples of Meissonnier’s work. This lavishly illustrated book focuses on the tureen and opens a view of Meissonnier’s multifaceted career. Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier places the artist in a broader cultural context as goldsmith, designer, and architect—roles challenged in his life by the rigid rules of the French guild system and political upheavals that stymied the survival of many of his works.

Distributed for the Cleveland Museum of Art

Exhibition Schedule:

The Cleveland Museum of Art
(October 25, 2026–March 14, 2027)