Cup with 1813 c. 1813 - 1820

Editor: Here we have a porcelain cup and saucer crafted by the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur around 1813, aptly named "Cup with 1813." It's the contrasting blocks of deep blue and the glittering gold that really grab my attention. How do you interpret its design elements? Curator: Focusing purely on the aesthetic properties, observe the juxtaposition of the matte cobalt blue exterior against the gleaming gold interior and trim. The smooth, uninterrupted surface of the cup is punctuated by gilded, stylized foliate designs. The saucer disrupts that, however. Note the printed, seemingly topographical design and how its geometry conflicts with the foliate scrollwork of the cup. Editor: That contrast is definitely striking! It feels almost like two separate aesthetics coexisting on the same object. Curator: Precisely. Consider, also, how the form dictates the viewing experience. The cup, held in the hand, invites intimate inspection of its surface and weight. The saucer, typically seen horizontally, provides a broader tableau, flattening the graphic. What does this two-part structure suggest to you? Editor: It's like one element focuses on tactile and sensory experience while the other introduces more abstract conceptual features. Curator: A good observation. It provokes an interplay of volume and surface, intimate handling and detached viewing. The addition of "1813" complicates the piece in a way that pulls attention to a specific historical context, which is also something that disrupts its pure design and moves us from admiring form, line and shape to the context in which the artwork existed. Editor: So, by studying form and juxtaposition, we can learn a lot. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Visual analysis can unlock many entry points to understanding a work.