Dinner plate c. 1865

This dinner plate, made by Minton's Pottery, features a central dragon motif amidst a border of classical figures and emblems. The dragon, a potent symbol of power, wisdom, and good fortune, is juxtaposed here with European classicism. Consider the dragon itself: in Eastern traditions, it embodies cosmic forces and imperial authority. Yet, when transplanted onto this plate, it becomes a decorative element, part of a broader visual dialogue between East and West. This cross-cultural pollination echoes in Renaissance art, where classical forms were infused with new, often mystical meanings. Here, the dragon is not merely an exotic import but a testament to the enduring human impulse to find harmony between disparate cultural narratives, revealing our collective unconscious.