Cup and saucer 1730 - 1740

This cup and saucer, crafted by the Meissen Manufactory, are adorned with maritime scenes. Here, ships aren't merely vessels for trade or war but symbols of transition, of journeys between known and unknown worlds. The ship as a motif, laden with human hopes and fears, appears across millennia and cultures. Consider the Egyptian funerary boats, meant to carry souls to the afterlife, or the Viking longships, symbols of both exploration and conquest. Like the ships depicted here, these vessels transcend their practical function, becoming potent symbols of human destiny. Observe how the waves cradle these boats, a gesture that echoes the cyclical nature of life itself: birth, death, and rebirth. This recurring image connects us to a collective memory, a primal understanding of our relationship with the vast, indifferent sea. This cup and saucer are not just tableware; they are a microcosm of our shared human experience.