Hot milk pot 1760 - 1775

This silver hot milk pot was crafted by Ernst Gottlob Borns around the mid-18th century. Its surface is adorned with blossoming floral motifs and fluid, organic forms. These botanical images, repeated through time, remind us of the ancient association between nature and life. Consider, for instance, the persistent use of floral patterns in Minoan frescoes or the symbolic weight of flowers in Renaissance paintings. Flowers are linked to cycles of rebirth and the ephemeral nature of existence. But what are they trying to convey in the context of this domestic object? Here, these motifs evoke a sense of luxury. Like the gilded lilies of ancient mythology that tempt and deceive, the floral patterns embody pleasure and decadence. There is a psychological pull, an unspoken desire embedded in these forms—a call to engage with comfort and beauty on a subconscious level. The motif is a continuous thread, perpetually altered, yet eternally tethered to its origin, a testament to the enduring power of symbols to shape our perceptions and emotions.