Dish with a bouquet and flower sprays c. 1800 - 1849

Here we have a porcelain dish adorned with painted flowers, created by the Kaiserliche Porzellanmanufaktur. While the exact date is unknown, these dishes became highly fashionable during the 18th century amidst the Rococo era, a time of aristocratic excess and elaborate ornamentation. But beyond mere decoration, porcelain, particularly when imported from China, carried significant social weight as a symbol of wealth and global trade. The floral motifs, while seemingly innocuous, were carefully selected and reproduced. Each bloom held symbolic meaning in the visual language of the time. Consider how the dish may have been used. Was it part of an elaborate table setting for the aristocracy? Or a display piece, reflecting aspirations of upward mobility and cultural refinement? This piece encapsulates the complex interplay between art, class, and cultural identity, offering a glimpse into the lives and values of those who coveted it.