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

This is a saucer decorated with insects, flower sprays, and grapevines, crafted by Rue Thiroux in Paris. Observe how the saucer's design creates a microcosm of natural life, centrally featuring a large insect with outstretched wings, balanced by smaller insects and botanical elements. The composition uses a radial symmetry, drawing the eye inward, while the delicate brushwork captures the fragility of the natural specimens. The gold rim and subtle floral patterns add a layer of artifice, contrasting with the naturalistic depictions. Considering structuralist principles, this porcelain becomes a signifier, where the arrangement and style reflect a cultural fascination with nature, classified and contained within the decorative arts. The formal constraints of the saucer—its shape and size—impose a framework on the wildness of nature, illustrating a human desire to categorize and control the natural world.