Saucer from a tea service for twelve 1807 - 1808

Editor: So, here we have a painted ceramic saucer by Christophe-Ferdinand Caron, part of a tea service dating back to 1807-1808. I'm struck by the juxtaposition of the delicate painting of the bird with what appears to be opulent decoration. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Beyond its beauty, I see this saucer as a material expression of its time. Considering the period, can you tell me how Neoclassicism informed the production and consumption of decorative arts? Editor: Well, Neoclassicism was all about bringing back classical forms. So I guess...everything had to look very balanced and refined? Curator: Precisely. This was a period of revolutions – social, political, and industrial. Who do you think could have afforded a tea service like this, and what would it have symbolized? Editor: Definitely the upper class, probably royalty or wealthy merchants? It would be a symbol of their wealth and taste. Curator: Exactly. Tea became a crucial part of sophisticated socializing. Now, notice the image of the bird. What kind of socio-political statements are the natural world decorations trying to convey to its users? Editor: Maybe it represents an idealized natural order, as opposed to the chaotic reality of revolutions happening everywhere at the time? Or a longing for that "order"? Curator: An insightful reflection! It perhaps embodies their desire for control over the external world and projecting wealth through detailed craftsmanship. What do you take away from our little chat about this artifact? Editor: That even something as simple as a saucer can be full of interesting social and political commentary. Thank you! Curator: The pleasure was mine! It's through objects like these that we engage in cultural criticism.