Basket c. 1770

This is a porcelain basket made by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. Note the intricate design, where the central painting of a bird on a flowering branch is framed by a deep blue border. The bowl's structure is a play between solidity and void. The lattice-like openings around the edge contrast with the smooth, unbroken surface of the central image. The eye moves between the detailed realism of the bird and the abstract pattern of the woven porcelain, questioning the relationship between image and form. Consider the semiotics at work here, too. The bird, rendered with delicate brushwork, acts as a signifier for the natural world, while the dark blue background and ornate gold trim convey luxury. It's a meeting of nature and artifice, challenging the notion of fixed categories. The basket's design invites an ongoing dialogue between its parts, and how we see and interpret them.