Bowl with cover (part of a set) 1735 - 1755

Curator: There's a delicate air about this piece, isn't there? So restrained, yet lush with implied detail. Editor: Indeed. We are looking at a covered bowl crafted from porcelain, dating back to between 1735 and 1755, from the famed Meissen Manufactory. You can find it at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: Meissen! Immediately that connects it to the highest echelons of 18th-century society, porcelain being such a prized and costly material. These pieces often functioned as statements of power. What sort of imagery do you read into those cobalt designs? Editor: For me, it’s all about cultivated nature. The stylized floral and foliage patterns give a sense of controlled abundance. This echoes the values of the Rococo style; the elegance, refinement, and idealized harmony of the period. The repetitive arrangements feel so intentional. Curator: It speaks of social order, even aesthetic dominion, doesn't it? Porcelain became a battleground in European courts—everyone wanted to manufacture it and the symbolism used was always aligned with status. A bowl like this one would have appeared in aristocratic homes, emphasizing refinement, wealth and the capacity of the owner to surround themselves with beauty, with pieces commissioned from leading manufactures. Editor: I agree; the deep blue contrasts sharply against the pure white to amplify that sentiment. The bowl itself could have served a purpose in daily life, but was probably mainly made to convey cultural ideals and high status, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Definitely. These items weren't about simple utility; they projected a cultivated lifestyle to invited guests. Its subtle curvature shows that it's more than just utilitarian—it shows off wealth and taste! It demonstrates how objects participate actively in establishing, broadcasting, and, at times, contesting the social standing of the elite. Editor: The more you delve, the more fascinating that role becomes! Curator: Yes, definitely. It allows us to look at the object, the design, its potential uses, and beyond; the power it can generate within a room and its owners, beyond what might come to mind.