Dish with quails near flowering plants c. 1750 - 1760

Editor: We’re looking at a “Dish with quails near flowering plants,” crafted around 1750-1760 by the Bow factory, using porcelain. It has a decorative quality, but also makes me think about faraway places. What story does this object tell from your perspective? Curator: It speaks volumes about 18th-century trade and taste. Notice the scalloped edge and the meticulously painted flora and fauna. This "orientalism" wasn't necessarily about understanding the East, but rather projecting European fantasies onto it. How do you think its original audience might have understood it? Editor: Perhaps they saw it as a sign of wealth and refinement, or an aspirational vision of an exotic lifestyle? Curator: Precisely! These porcelains were status symbols, demonstrating access to global trade networks. They also reflect how elite consumers engaged with idealized and often inaccurate visions of Eastern cultures. The politics of display are crucial here. Editor: So, this dish is not just a pretty object, but also reveals something about how people wanted to see themselves in relation to the rest of the world? Curator: Exactly. Consider the dining rituals associated with pieces like this: who was invited, what was served, how was it displayed? Each aspect reinforced a social and cultural narrative. Editor: I hadn't thought about that aspect. It’s interesting how a dish can reflect broader cultural dynamics of trade, status, and perceptions of "the Other." I’ll definitely look at art with more of an historical perspective going forward. Curator: And I'm glad I got to examine a familiar piece from a fresh vantage point, reminding me how subjective taste interacts with art history.