Saucer with a floral scroll, stars and dots c. 1775 - 1779

Curator: Ah, yes. Here we have a delicate porcelain saucer residing in the esteemed Rijksmuseum. It's dated circa 1775-1779. Aptly named, "Saucer with a floral scroll, stars and dots." It seems the maker wasn’t feeling overly poetic that day. Editor: It's…precious. Like a tiny, meticulously decorated stage set for a fairy tale. The garland of flowers is quite charming but the central field speckled with tiny stars feels more cosmological, in a light-hearted way. The Rococo style is apparent. Do you feel the mood here? Curator: Absolutely. The Rococo period, with its embrace of ornamentation and asymmetry, it's visible. This wasn’t just functional ware; it was about creating pleasure. I am pretty fascinated by the recurring floral motif framing the central part, drawing in and enclosing the individual viewer to a central star. It seems like an interior universe in itself. What could all these flowers represent, and why choose a small, contained star field for our viewing pleasure while taking a sip of tea? Editor: It’s the ultimate in aspirational domesticity. Each carefully placed star, each blush of colour in the flowers - together, they tell the promise of order, even beauty, prevailing. The gold trim adds the desired touch of class for a wealthy family. This porcelain may even function as an analogy of nature, with its flowers as signifiers. Curator: It is. The gold stars and gilded trim create a sort of heaven and earth scenario - the microcosm, writ small and manageable in your teacup. But let’s be real – isn't there also something inherently…constraining about all that enforced prettiness? Imagine how easily that balance can break into pieces! I like to imagine someone at a tea party getting angry, shattering the whole setting into little stars and colorful rose bits! Editor: Haha! I would pay to see that, a rebellion acted in decorative arts. It would add to the cultural memory these artifacts evoke. What’s interesting to me is how our idea of “preciousness” changes, or doesn’t. Even now, that tension between control and the threat of chaos gives the object a lingering power. It can start interesting conversations, even about its owner! Curator: Indeed. Even in this small piece, history is resonating in front of our eyes! I feel like having some tea! Editor: I am feeling more of a smashing plates kind of mood, as you inspired me. Perhaps, for art's sake.