Winter 1745 - 1760

This is "Winter," a porcelain figure crafted by the Höchst Manufactory in the mid-18th century. A woman stands, draped in furs, holding a brazier – a portable heater embodying warmth against the cold. The motif of the personified season is ancient, linking back to classical antiquity. Consider the Roman mosaics depicting the seasons as goddesses, their attributes revealing their essence. Winter, often shown cloaked and somber, embodies the dormancy of nature. Here, though, she is no withered crone, but a poised woman. The brazier in her hands—a symbol of domesticity and comfort—recurs throughout art history, morphing from sacred hearths to secular sources of warmth. It is interesting that the artist chooses to represent her with a warm brazier. This choice transcends the immediate context of the season, tapping into a universal longing for warmth and security, resonating across centuries.