Oval Platter 1820 - 1825

Curator: Here we have a charming oval platter, estimated to have been crafted between 1820 and 1825. It's a ceramic piece adorned with watercolor illustrations and forms part of the Metropolitan Museum's collection. Editor: It exudes a quiet elegance. The floral motif, while traditional, is rendered with such delicacy. It makes me think of bygone tea parties and afternoon light. Curator: The flower arrangements are especially significant within the context of 19th-century bourgeois culture. Floral symbolism was intensely coded, acting almost as a silent language for courtship and social exchanges. A piece like this likely wasn't "just" decorative; it conveyed subtle messages. Editor: Ah, so each bloom likely bears meaning? I am curious, which flowers stand out to you, and what sentiments were linked to them at the time? Roses are prominent; I suspect those imply love. Curator: Exactly! Roses often symbolize love and passion. But consider the surrounding flowers as well. The choice and arrangement would add layers of nuance, perhaps signifying hope, remembrance, or other emotions depending on their context within the particular social relationships implicated. Editor: I wonder about the craftspeople. The flowers surrounding the rim, for instance. It's this continuous ring of blossoms surrounding the center arrangement, this implies to me the circle of life, eternity, something quite poignant. Curator: This points to a cultural memory deeply rooted in visual symbolism. Artisans then and now unconsciously repeat, reinforce, and reimagine existing images as inherited structures. Editor: Indeed! Thank you; it does open avenues of thought regarding symbolism and its impact across eras. Curator: And it reminds us of the layers of intention, conscious and unconscious, that resonate within an object seemingly as simple as a floral platter.