The handle of some tastevins is in the form of a pair of snakes or a single snake, an element most often seen on tastevins from Bourgogne region. Can anyone tell me if the snakes have any symbolic significance?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
The small, shallow silver tasting cup called the tastevin in French is probably most recognizable from the stereotypical image of the formally attired sommelier carrying this cup on a chain or ribbon around the neck. This practice has largely disappeared, probably because it has often been portrayed as comical or pretentious. The tastevin is usually associated with Burgundy, where it was used - and still is by a very few - to check the color and progress of the wine maturing in barrel in a dark cellar. I have seen quite a few Burgundian tastevins, but I don't believe those with a snake forming the small circular handle are very common. To answer your specific question, we probably need to consider the role of snakes in religion and mythology. Snakes have conveyed powerful images since the earliest origins of human history, and they have implied both positive and negative forces including fertility, wisdom, protection, and evil. There are countless examples of jewelry, from so many cultures around the world, which integrate a coiled serpent since the shape lends itself naturally to handles, bracelets and chains. My guess is that the designer of a tastevin with a snake-like handle was probably focusing on the association of serpents with healing and medicine. After all, wine too has a dual character since it can be harmful if consumed to excess, but may also impart health benefits according to many studies.
