Dish with bouquets tied in a ribbon c. 1770 - 1775

This is a porcelain dish with bouquets tied in a ribbon, made by Porseleinfabriek Ludwigsburg. Dishes like these reflect 18th century Europe’s fascination with the natural world. The floral motifs and delicate ribbons embody the Rococo style, an aesthetic that dominated aristocratic tastes. These decorative elements also speak to broader social themes. In a society where class distinctions were rigidly enforced, luxury items such as this dish played a crucial role in signaling status. Owning and displaying such objects was a way for the elite to perform their identity. However, this performance relied on the exploitation of resources and labor, often from colonized lands. The porcelain itself, reminiscent of sought-after Chinese ceramics, hints at global trade networks and colonial power dynamics. The flowers, while seemingly innocent, might have been exotic species brought back from expeditions, subtly referencing imperial expansion. This dish, with its celebration of beauty and refinement, is therefore also a reminder of the complex and often troubling historical context in which such objects were created and circulated.