Bowl with insects, flower sprays and grapevines c. 1797 - 1798

Curator: This stoneware bowl, dating back to 1797-98, simply shimmers. The 'Bowl with insects, flower sprays and grapevines,' resides here at the Rijksmuseum. The delicate drawings that embellish its form gives a certain...joie de vivre. Editor: It's giving "countryside tea party chic," but with an edge of ephemeral beauty. Those butterflies! There's something intensely poignant about rendering these fleeting creatures on such a permanent, everyday object. The gold trim elevates, while the porcelain maintains its understated elegance. Curator: Agreed, there's definitely an intentionality to using insects—symbols that flit in and out of existence—to decorate an object that will outlive them, even us. What I find really compelling is how nature's randomness is mimicked; nothing is symmetrical, creating a sense of aliveness, even wildness. Editor: Butterflies and ladybugs became increasingly fashionable on decorative objects starting in the Rococo period. Remember the butterfly's rich symbolism: metamorphosis, renewal, the soul. Seeing insects treated like jewels makes one think about nature, perhaps humanity as nature too, to cherish life more, or even a commentary on fleeting moments, like holding summer in the palm of one's hand. Curator: Well said. Perhaps also a hint of vanity in there, as Rococo, after all, loved the fleeting moment and ornamentation. Imagine, displaying fresh fruit in this bowl while sipping tea. One can imagine Rue Thiroux himself having similar reflections. And it really ties back to art’s enduring challenge: freezing a moment in time. Editor: Exactly. I think someone, perhaps Thiroux, found great solace in creating such a paradox; a frozen image of the most short-lived natural objects, on durable ceramic material, to decorate an impermanent life. What does this say about humanity's obsession with controlling everything around us? Even what has been intended as freedom—nature—has been caged by human innovation and creation. Curator: Food for thought, and very poetic! All these delicate creatures, the golden glimmering foliage…I suppose this bowl holds more than just jam and fruit. It’s an emblem of our complicated relationship with nature, made manifest in everyday life. Editor: It certainly makes you see that, doesn’t it? I may now look differently at these symbols every time they are portrayed through different mediums. So yes, thank you to our lovely bowl for allowing us the thought-provoking exercise!