Dinner plate c. 1865

This dinner plate, made by Minton's Pottery and Porcelain Factory, displays a fascinating dance of symbols. The central motif, a dragon, immediately grabs our attention. Often, the dragon signifies power, strength, and good fortune, a symbol deeply rooted in Eastern cultures, but it can also signify chaos. Consider the ouroboros, the snake eating its tail, a symbol of cyclical existence found in ancient Egypt and Greece. Similarly, the dragon motif has traversed continents and centuries, morphing in meaning with each cultural encounter. The appearance of the dragon intertwined with classical motifs reminds us of the human psyche. It is the eternal struggle between order and chaos, reason and instinct, that continues to fuel artistic expression and engage viewers on a profound, subconscious level. The cyclical progression of this symbol is a testament to how cultural memory resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings.