Herring gull (one of a pair) 1745 - 1755

Editor: These porcelain Herring Gull figurines, dating back to between 1745 and 1755 from the Meissen Manufactory, are incredibly detailed. There's a certain stiffness in their posture, though. How do you see this work fitting into the broader art world of the time? Curator: It's interesting you pick up on that stiffness. The Meissen Manufactory was crucial in establishing porcelain as a luxury material across Europe. These gulls reflect a period of intense courtly fascination with the natural world, transforming birds into prized display pieces, which bolstered a visual language of power. How does understanding this background change how you see the "stiffness?" Editor: It does contextualize it a little. Knowing they were display pieces, it makes sense that they would be idealized and maybe a bit formal, lacking the casual ease you might see today. So, are we looking at Rococo-era "power birds?" Curator: To an extent. Think of Rococo's emphasis on elaborate ornamentation, asymmetrical compositions, and lighthearted themes. The scientific gaze started turning animals into ornamental attributes to convey the wealth of those that owned the piece. Did owning exotic items start shifting towards status symbols that continue today? Editor: It's certainly got me thinking about how art becomes a symbol of status, even today. Thanks for this insight! Curator: My pleasure! Recognizing how historical context shapes our perception encourages us to investigate contemporary social structures.