Shaving Dish 1800 - 1850

This is a ceramic shaving dish by Talavera Poblana, now located at the Art Institute of Chicago. The composition immediately draws the eye to a stylized plant form at the center, surrounded by swirling tendrils and symmetrical leaves. The color palette is subdued, dominated by earthy greens and browns against a pale backdrop, lending the piece a sense of groundedness. Around the rim, geometric shapes create a patterned border, acting as a frame that contains the organic forms within. The dish reflects an interesting intersection between nature and geometry. The central plant is clearly representational, yet it's rendered with a formal precision, as if nature is being filtered through a lens of mathematical order. The composition achieves a balance between organic fluidity and structural rigidity. It invites us to consider the interplay between natural and constructed forms, and how these elements complement each other to destabilize established meanings. The arrangement on this shaving dish is not merely decorative, but also a subtle commentary on how we perceive and organize the world around us.