Pitcher 1762

This white pitcher, standing just over nine inches tall, was made by Philip Christian & Company. Notice how the soft, rounded body of the pitcher is covered in a raised floral pattern, giving it a tactile, almost sculptural quality. Your eye is immediately drawn to the contrasting black transfer-printed scene featuring an oriental building and foliage. This monochrome vignette creates a focal point against the textured white porcelain. Above this idyllic scene is a band of geometric ornament, a dark and formal pattern offering a stark contrast to the naturalistic motifs below. This object embodies the dialogue between ornamentation and utility. The pitcher’s form is not just functional but also becomes a canvas for the interplay of textures, patterns, and pictorial elements. It reflects the structuralist idea that objects communicate meaning through a system of signs, inviting us to decode its cultural references and aesthetic intentions.