Two-handled cup 1715 - 1735

This delicate two-handled cup was crafted in Meissen, a German town known for its porcelain, sometime after 1710. The cup is adorned with Chinoiseries: stylized depictions of Chinese life and motifs. Notice the figure fishing, a motif that stretches back to ancient Chinese art. The fisherman, often a symbol of patience and contemplation, appears in various guises across cultures. In some contexts, he represents the pursuit of knowledge or spiritual enlightenment. Yet, here, the scene is flattened into a decorative pattern. This appropriation reflects a Western fascination with the exotic East, filtered through the lens of commerce and fantasy. The palm tree, an umbrella, and the figures are all elements of an imagined landscape, a projection of desire. It's a cyclical dance of influence, where symbols are borrowed, adapted, and re-contextualized, revealing our enduring human tendency to project our desires and fears onto the unknown.