Snuffbox in the form of an apple 1735 - 1755

This is a porcelain snuffbox in the form of an apple, created by the Meissen Manufactory. Its smooth, lustrous surface and delicate hand-painted details immediately capture the eye. The apple's form is divided into two halves, joined by a gold rim. This division transforms a natural object into a functional, constructed artifact. The leaves and insects seem to playfully disrupt the apple's simple form, a tension that is quite striking. The apple as a symbol is rich with associations – temptation, knowledge, and beauty. Here, the Meissen Manufactory takes these classical motifs and reinterprets them through the lens of luxury. The detailed painting and perfect form elevate the humble apple to an object of desire. The playful reinterpretation invites us to reconsider how we assign meaning to the everyday, and how simple forms can be vessels for complex ideas. The division of the apple implies that the surface hides other intentions.