Saucer 1747 - 1758

This delicate saucer was crafted at the Vincennes Manufactory sometime between 1740 and 1756. At its center, a young child is depicted playing a musical instrument, nestled amongst foliage. This motif is not new. We see children with musical instruments in antiquity. Think of the cherubic musicians often found adorning Renaissance paintings, emblems of innocence and divine harmony. Yet here, our musician is more grounded, set against a backdrop of earthly flora. There’s a certain melancholic innocence here, perhaps hinting at the fleeting nature of childhood. The image echoes through time and space, shifting in meaning as it reappears. Is this a conscious echo, or a shared, collective memory bubbling to the surface? Perhaps it’s both. What remains constant is the emotional resonance of the image – the tender depiction of youth, the harmony, engaging us on a subconscious level. These motifs do not progress in a linear fashion. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in each historical context.