Saucer (part of a service) 1735 - 1745

This is a saucer, part of a service, made by Cornelis Pronk in the 18th century. Here, the central motif presents a stylized vegetal form, perhaps a palmette or a stylized acanthus. The diamond background creates a pattern, reminiscent of textiles, which speaks to the global exchange of visual ideas. The stylized lotus, though abstracted, still carries echoes of its original sacred meaning, signifying purity, rebirth, and enlightenment. This echoes the visual language of antiquity, where similar motifs appeared in architectural ornamentation. Consider its journey—from ancient friezes to Renaissance tapestries, and now adorning a humble saucer. Such symbols, charged with layers of history, tap into our collective memory. This saucer, therefore, is not merely a vessel for holding liquids; it is a microcosm of cultural transmission, a reminder of how symbols migrate across time and space, constantly evolving and adapting.