Dish c. 1760

Editor: Here we have a delicate porcelain dish, created around 1760 by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. Its Rococo style gives it a playful, almost frivolous feel with all those flowers. The rim seems gilded, which adds such elegance to the whole thing. What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: It’s funny you say frivolous. When I see this, I think of secrets. A tiny universe of whispered courtly nothings held on a surface intended for… what exactly? Custard? Asparagus? I can’t help but feel these decorative arts held—and continue to hold—an echo of intimacy we’re rarely privy to. Imagine the hands that held this, the conversations sparked by its presence on a table… It’s more than just ceramic, it’s a vessel of untold stories, literally and figuratively. Don’t you think? Editor: Absolutely! It’s like each flower is a little secret being held close. Is the basketweave texture significant? Curator: That texture adds such depth! The rococo loved nature, loved ornamentation, and they relished playing with textures. What appear at first to be haphazard details were precisely arranged. Look at the almost-symmetrical pattern around that yellow central flower. These porcelain creators definitely want us to think they threw this dish together spontaneously… But the labor, oh, the labor tells another, completely compelling story. A good reminder that things are never as effortless as they appear! What will you remember from this work? Editor: Definitely that dichotomy! The carefree facade hiding the meticulous work, and the history held in a single dish. Thank you! Curator: And thank you for prompting a renewed appreciation for rococo whimsy and hard work. Until next time.