Plate with a flower spray c. 1825 - 1835

This plate with a flower spray was produced by the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur, though we don’t know exactly when. It's a piece that invites us to consider the complex interplay between nature, art, and societal values. The single flower spray is a beautiful, delicate rendering of a purple flower. But this image also reflects a specific cultural moment, one where the botanical world was being cataloged, classified, and, in some ways, possessed by European powers. Porcelain itself was a highly sought-after commodity, its production often tied to colonial trade routes and exploitative labor practices. Consider the hands that shaped this plate, adorned with an image that romanticizes nature while obscuring the socio-political realities of its time. As you view it, think about the stories it holds, the beauty it displays, and the silences it keeps.