Dish 1720 - 1730

This Meissen porcelain dish features symbols that resonate across cultures and centuries. Two birds take centre stage, flanked by serpentine dragons on either side. Dragons, powerful symbols of strength and good fortune, weave through art history, from ancient Mesopotamia to dynastic China. Now, focus on the rooster, a motif laden with meaning. In many cultures, the rooster announces the dawn, symbolizing vigilance, courage, and resurrection. Yet, in other contexts, it can represent pride or even aggression. Consider how this image might stir our collective memories, echoing the rooster's role in religious art, where it sometimes signifies the betrayal of Christ. The rooster's crow elicits a powerful, subconscious response. It’s a recurring echo through time. This seemingly simple image carries a profound cultural weight, demonstrating how symbols evolve, resurface, and acquire new layers of significance.