Pitcher 1829 - 1832

This is a porcelain pitcher, crafted by Tucker and Hemphill around the 1830s, adorned with vibrant floral motifs. The bouquet, bursting with roses, cornflowers, and other blossoms, speaks to a language of flowers—a symbolic dialogue that transcends mere decoration. In this era, floral arrangements carried profound sentimental meanings, often reflecting virtues or affections. Consider how similar arrangements, in paintings from the Renaissance, served as vanitas symbols, reminders of life's fleeting beauty. The golden accents tracing the pitcher's rim, while seemingly ornamental, echo the enduring allure of precious metals, evoking notions of value and refinement. These gilded edges remind me of the golden halos in Byzantine icons, transforming a simple object into something sacred and precious. The blooms and golden highlights create a visual tension, drawing us into a dance between the transient and the eternal, reminding us of the cyclical nature of beauty and decay.