Bowl 1730 - 1745

This bowl was made in Vienna and is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The eye is immediately drawn to the striking contrast between the opulence of the gold leaf, which dominates the piece, and the delicate floral arrangement painted in the bowl’s central panel. The heavy use of gold leaf, particularly on the handles and the trim, speaks to a desire for display, a characteristic of the era's aristocratic tastes. The floral motif is framed by an intricate purple pattern that echoes the organic shapes of the gold handles. The structure of the ornamentation relies on symmetry to create a sense of balanced order. However, the use of handmade decoration ensures that these are not mechanically reproduced forms. The bowl destabilizes any fixed meaning, reflecting the time's broader tensions between traditional craftsmanship and emerging industrial processes.