Plate from a Royal Berlin China Service c. 20th century

Curator: Let’s take a look at this ceramic plate, part of a Royal Berlin China Service, dating from around the 20th century, housed right here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. What’s your initial take? Editor: Striking. Utilitarian, yet almost ritualistic, like a dish prepared for an otherworldly feast. That creamy peach surface against the graphic black is pure Bauhaus, isn't it? Curator: Absolutely. There's something both grounded and ethereal. You’ve got the solidity of the porcelain, then this almost childlike freedom in the imagery: a winged figure with a mirror, reclining animals, and geometric flourishes... like a dreamscape contained within a circle. Editor: Speaking of which, porcelain—especially royal porcelain—is never a simple affair. It’s fired in a kiln, the design hand-painted… think of the specialized labor involved, the mining of the kaolin clay, the skill of the decorators… each plate represents hours of craft. Curator: And that history—the touch of the hand, the breath of the kiln—adds layers of meaning. For me, that winged figure almost dances between worlds. What are your thoughts on that composition? Editor: Well, that’s fascinating, but those figures, especially set against that flat ground, bring me back to production. This looks mass-produced. The simplified figures make me wonder: were stencils involved? It’s craft, yes, but designed for replication on a grand scale for use as tableware in state banquets or for sale at a significant profit, let's not forget. Curator: Interesting. And yet… despite that potential for mass production, there's this enduring resonance, that possibility for reflection and maybe a touch of escapism. Editor: Absolutely. In the end, that tension, between the artist's idea and the process that produced this object, makes me think this plate offers as many questions as answers about society, materiality and the concept of fine dining and art!