Strapwork and rinceaux with Chinoiserie figures 1720 - 1735

This is a glass bottle, standing just over four inches tall, painted by Ignaz Preissler in the eighteenth century. The eye is immediately drawn to the ornate decoration of black strapwork and rinceaux which envelop the bottle. Figures of cherubs and figures in Chinoiserie style robes are caught in the curvilinear design. The choice of glass as a medium adds a layer of complexity. Its transparency creates a sense of ethereal lightness. The dark paint, in contrast, asserts a graphic presence that emphasizes line and form. The contrast is not just visual but also conceptual, playing with notions of visibility and concealment, presence and absence. Consider how Preissler's design interacts with the bottle's form. The strapwork and rinceaux motifs aren't merely decorative. They articulate the curvature of the glass, accentuating its contours and amplifying its volume. The motifs suggest an interplay between surface and depth, challenging our perception of space. These formal decisions invite us to decode the signs and structure how art engages with perception.