Plate c. 1726

Curator: These gorgeous ceramic plates, creations of the Meissen Porcelain Factory circa 1726, reside here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Look closely at the striking crimson decoration. Editor: Crimson dragons chasing their tails around the rim – a delightful game! And then, are those phoenixes face-to-face in the plate’s center? It has a playful spirit; even that dark red seems energetic against the white porcelain. Curator: Indeed, the underglaze painting depicts the "Red Dragon" pattern, referencing Asian artistic styles, but reimagined through a European lens. Note the intricate layering involved in the decoration process itself—from the initial mold to the skilled application of color. Porcelain production was, and remains, a sophisticated labor. Editor: Yes, but more than the technique, it’s the whimsy that catches my eye. I feel the hand of the artist so keenly here. The dragons, even though mythical beasts, appear…jovial, almost mischievous! As if they're inviting you to a secret feast, some delicious forbidden treat. Curator: That playfulness certainly makes them unique. Think, though, of the broader consumption context of these pieces, usually owned and displayed by affluent people. Such ceramics would elevate a meal into a signifier of status. Editor: That's true. But sometimes, even status symbols shimmer with charm! Looking at this porcelain, I don't feel lectured or excluded; instead, I imagine the hands that molded and painted the scene—what jokes did they crack as the dragon took form, the glaze hardened in fire? These "Red Dragons," I suspect, know secrets beyond mere social stratification. Curator: I find that imagining their conditions and how they engaged with this material is crucial when observing artworks that at first sight evoke a kind of elite lifestyle that perhaps has less significance today. Editor: Exactly! We’ve peeled back some layers—social status, historical context, process of labor, revealing something magical about the creative heart. Thank you.