Dish with tree, flowers, and birds 1717 - 1728

This porcelain dish, made in Vienna, features a whimsical tree, flowers, and birds. At first glance, the symmetrical composition centers on a stylized tree that rises organically from the base, its branches adorned with vibrant blossoms and avian life. The octagonal shape of the dish disrupts the conventional circular form, offering a subtle challenge to traditional notions of balance and symmetry. Within this framework, the painted decoration explores the tension between naturalism and artifice. Birds and butterflies are arranged in a playful dance, creating a sense of vitality. The colour scheme is dominated by pastels, which creates an airy, dreamlike quality. The artist deliberately avoids strict realism, instead embraces a sense of fantasy. This dish is not just a functional object but a reinterpretation of nature filtered through a lens of artistic expression.