Saucer with a putto on clouds 1785

This porcelain saucer featuring a putto on clouds was made in Ansbach, sometime in the 18th century. The circular form of the saucer establishes a self-contained world, in which the central motif is a figure of a cherubic putto amidst clouds. The soft, cloud-like texture is rendered in a delicate purple camaieu, which offers a contrast to the hard, smooth glaze of the porcelain. Consider how this choice of texture and colour might evoke a sense of ethereal lightness, or perhaps a more psychological resonance. The gilded rim, with its meticulous detailing, further frames and contains this vision, adding a layer of opulence and refinement. The overall effect of this composition is one of harmonious balance. The saucer exists not merely as a functional object, but as a site of contemplation, where formal elements converge to reflect cultural values and aesthetic ideals of its time. It is an artefact, inviting endless interpretation.