Ewer and basin. Culture: French, Paris. Dimensions: Overall (ewer .411): 9 5/16 × 6 1/2 × 4 3/4 in. (23.7 × 16.5 × 12.1 cm);Overall (basin .412): 2 5/8 × 8 9/16 × 13 15/16 in. (6.6 × 21.7 × 35.4 cm). Maker: Jean Fauche (ca. 1706-1762, master 1733). Date: 1739-42.Before the eighteenth century, custom called for the washing of hands at the table in a grand household. Often one servant held a basin for the diners while another poured water from a ewer. This practice was particularly important before the use of forks became widespread (see also 48.187.214, .215), but by the early eighteenth century, sets of matching forks, knives, and spoons were in common use. Thus, after about 1700 largescale ewers and basins were produced primarily for display purposes and would have been housed on a sideboard or a tiered buffet. By contrast, smaller ewers and basins such as this example were made for use as part of the toilette, the daily bathing and grooming ritual that took place in the bedroom.Th