Schotel, beschilderd met strooibloemen en gouden lovertjes c. 1809 - 1814

This is a small decorative plate, painted with scattered flowers and golden spangles. The garlands of blossoms intertwined with ribbons circling the rim are reminiscent of ancient wreaths. In antiquity, wreaths and garlands were awarded to victors and used in religious ceremonies to honor deities. These circular adornments reappeared in the Renaissance, adorning portraits as symbols of virtue and accomplishment. The circularity represents eternity and cyclical renewal. Consider the symbolism in the context of this delicate porcelain: Does it suggest a perpetual cycle of beauty and fragility? The flowers, seemingly scattered at random, evoke a sense of effortless grace, yet their careful arrangement betrays a deeper intent. This interplay between spontaneity and order engages our subconscious, drawing us into a world where beauty and transience are forever intertwined.