Tea and coffee service (solitaire) with a landscape and flower sprays c. 1780

This tea and coffee service was created by Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur. The porcelain set features a tray, coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl, and cup with saucer. Notice the striking contrast between the stark monochrome landscapes encased within oval frames and the delicate sprays of flowers that encircle them. The floral motifs soften the geometric shapes and the monochrome scenes. This contrast destabilizes the established meaning of the set, which is designed for elite society. The set’s design seems to question the established societal conventions by juxtaposing nature and society. Consider the placement of the objects on the tray. Each piece relates to the other, and the position of each item on the tray allows for a visual dialogue. The use of contrasting imagery and the set's relational design suggests a questioning of fixed social structures. The set offers an open invitation to re-interpret the symbolism and societal implications of these objects.