Round plate with scrolls c. 1900

This is a round plate with scrolls made of porcelain. The anonymous artist from the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur has created a visually intriguing object by contrasting elaborate patterns with simple geometric shapes. At first glance, your eyes might be drawn to the upper half of the plate, where delicate, scroll-like designs evoke organic forms but are rigidly contained within the circular boundary. Below this decorative band, an arc of smooth, white porcelain intersects a series of concentric circles. The texture is subtly altered, creating visual interest through light reflection. This juxtaposition of naturalistic motifs and abstract geometry sets up a visual tension, inviting us to consider how decoration can both conceal and reveal the underlying structure of an object. The semiotic function of the scrolls suggests a reference to traditional craftsmanship and ornamentation, while the stark, almost minimalist circles introduce a modernist sensibility. The structure of this plate doesn't just serve a functional purpose; it becomes a canvas for exploring ideas about taste, history, and the interplay between design and art.