Tureen with cover 1735 - 1750

This tureen with cover was created by the Meissen Manufactory. The eye is immediately drawn to its rounded form, a seemingly simple shape enriched by a complex interplay of texture and pictorial elements. The overall surface is articulated with a subtle, repeating pattern, a tactile field that invites closer inspection. Cartouches containing floral and landscape scenes interrupt this texture, introducing a pictorial space that contrasts with the tureen’s tactile presence. These painted scenes, framed by their decorative borders, create windows into idealized, pastoral worlds. The handles, sculpted with leaf-like extensions, further animate the form, adding a layer of organic complexity to the object's geometry. Through its structure, the tureen invites us to consider the relationship between decoration and utility, between the tactile and the visual. It's a reminder that even the most functional of objects can serve as a canvas for artistic expression, challenging fixed meanings and engaging us with new ways of thinking about space and perception.