Rococo Intoxication

Champagne, Cinnamon, Rose, and Lemon Sorbet

The term Rococo comes from the French word Rocaille, which was a method of decoration dating back to the Renaissance that used pebbles, seashells, and cement to decorate grottoes and fountains. The Rococo period extended through a good portion of the 18th century, thriving between 1730 and 1770.

Known for curves, spirals, foliage, and gold, the Rococo can easily be spotted in paintings, furniture, sculpture, and even architecture. Themes include nature, the pastoral, mythology, flirtation, and the theatrical. Walnut wood was paired with pastel colors and ornamental flourishes. Europeans during this era took inspiration from places like Japan and China, incorporating motifs such as dragons into their designs and flowers and spices into their cuisine.

Although the Rococo reached new heights in Austria and Italy, it started in France and is probably most associated with the French aristocracy like Marie Antionette. In painting, subjects varied from scenes of Venus to nobles elegantly enjoying outdoor parties, a genre which was called Fête Champêtre. While the Rococo was an artistic movement, many people identity the lavish excess of the Rococo with the lifestyle of the French court.

During this period of history, a star began to be commercialized: champagne, a perfect accompaniment to the aristocracy’s way of life. There are countless rumors about the sparkling elixir and Versailles, like that the coupe was molded after the young queen’s breasts or those of her father-in-law’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour. While in actuality, the champagne glass was designed a century earlier, the court celebrations during the latter half of the 18th century most likely popularized bubbly as a party drink.