Plate with jumping fish c. 1890 - 1894

Here we have a plate with jumping fish, made by Escalier de Cristal. Notice the plate’s circular form, disrupted by an undulating rim that hints at the fluidity of water, a theme reinforced by the stylized waves and two leaping fish. The composition balances realism with abstraction, where the fish are rendered with defined scales and anatomical features, yet the water is depicted through repetitive, almost ornamental wave patterns. Consider how the choice of a functional object, like a plate, challenges the traditional boundaries between art and everyday life. The fish, dynamically poised mid-leap, introduce a temporal element. They capture a fleeting moment of action within the static medium of ceramic. This interplay between movement and stillness engages with broader philosophical questions about time, perception, and the representation of nature. The plate functions not merely as a vessel but as a tableau, inviting ongoing interpretation of its aesthetic and cultural values.