Square dish with a bouquet, flower sprays and foliate scrolls c. 1780 - 1820

This square dish with floral decoration was created by the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur, or Royal Porcelain Factory. The factory was founded in Berlin in 1763, under the patronage of Frederick the Great of Prussia. Floral motifs, like the bouquet and foliate scrolls on this dish, were a popular way to decorate porcelain. The delicate rendering of each bloom is not simply decorative. During this time, botany emerged as a field of scientific study, aligning artistic representation with empirical observation. Furthermore, each flower carried symbolic weight – roses for love, perhaps, or forget-me-nots for remembrance. This dish reflects a broader cultural moment, one where scientific inquiry, artistic expression, and social symbolism converged in the creation of luxury goods. Consider how the seemingly simple arrangement of flowers on a dish can speak volumes about the values and beliefs of a society.