Plate with New Dulong Pattern 1750 - 1760

Curator: This is a plate made by the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, featuring what's known as the "New Dulong Pattern." Editor: It feels very ornamental, almost excessively so. The placement of the birds feels strangely formal. Curator: Note how the central floral arrangement and the surrounding vignettes are carefully balanced—a visual representation of structured harmony. Editor: Birds and flowers… common motifs, certainly. But the way they're rendered, particularly the birds perched so precisely, suggests a controlled, almost captive representation of nature. It lacks spontaneity. Curator: Indeed. Meissen was known for its technical mastery. The crispness of the painted details and the gilding highlights speak to its virtuosity. It's a dialogue between material and form. Editor: Yes, a dialogue that perhaps prioritizes control over emotive expression. Still, the plate's imagery evokes ideals of beauty and perhaps a longing for a tamed, idealized natural world. Curator: A fine point. It offers a fascinating insight into the cultural values reflected in its design.