Bowl c. 1780

Editor: This is a ceramic bowl from around 1780, made by Porzellanmanufaktur Frankenthal, housed right here at the Art Institute of Chicago. I'm immediately struck by its delicate Rococo style—it’s so elegant and airy. All those colorful fruits, a touch surreal, right? What kind of story do you think this bowl is trying to tell? Curator: Well, I’m less convinced it wants to tell a story, and more inclined to see it whisper of an era! Notice how the painterly quality imitates fine art on this porcelain surface. Imagine the hands that painted these luscious grapes – their breath, their intention! The Rococo, right, it was all about light and playfulness, an escape from heavier, more austere designs. It's as though beauty itself was sustenance, even as society verged on a precipice... Food for the soul. Now tell me, does it evoke the same sensory experience, do you feel transported? Editor: Absolutely, I'm getting a feast-for-the-eyes vibe! But was porcelain like this used often or was it purely ornamental, too precious for everyday meals? Curator: Ah, a terrific question, which transports me into imagining life in the 18th century. Dishes such as this blurred the line between utility and display, adorning elegant tables *and* cabinet shelves alike. The aristocracy would have had shelves upon shelves of ceramics, using each to impress guests with their discernment and wealth, wouldn’t you say? They elevated daily living to an art form, if only in a fragile, material way! Editor: It’s interesting how it mirrors our modern obsession with aesthetically pleasing, but possibly unusable, décor! I hadn’t considered the inherent social commentary woven in these floral brushstrokes! Curator: Precisely! Who knew fruit and flowers could hold so much history!