Cup and Saucer c. 1760

The Manufacture nationale de Sèvres crafted this cup and saucer, a delicate dance of porcelain, paint, and gilding. The bright white porcelain is adorned with blue floral motifs and gilded edges. The composition is divided into distinct horizontal bands and radial symmetry. Observe the cup, the upper register of the cup is echoed in the perimeter of the saucer, establishing a visual rhythm. Note the radial arrangement of the blue floral design in the centre of the saucer, that draws the eye inward, creating a focal point amidst the broader floral decoration. Consider the semiotic implications of these aesthetic choices. The floral patterns, traditionally associated with nature and beauty, when combined with the rigid symmetry and formal structure, destabilize the conventional notions of organic growth. The gilt edging enhances its value, yet the regularity of these elements suggests a world of manufactured order. It challenges the fixed meanings we attach to luxury.