Coffee cup (part of a service) 1775 - 1790

This Meissen porcelain coffee cup is adorned with delicate depictions of birds, a motif deeply embedded in human symbolism since the ancient world. Birds, often seen as messengers between the earthly and divine realms, have flitted through art history from Egyptian hieroglyphs representing the soul to Renaissance paintings where they symbolize freedom and the spiritual ascent. Think of the dove, a universal emblem of peace, or the eagle, a symbol of power and imperial authority. Here, these birds might evoke a longing for nature, a romantic escape from the increasingly industrial world. But consider also how these images tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations. The arrangement of these figures, the gentle curve of a bird's neck - these are not just aesthetic choices but echoes of archetypal forms, recurring motifs that engage viewers on a visceral, often unconscious, level. And so, this coffee cup, a simple object, becomes a vessel carrying complex layers of meaning, a testament to the enduring power of symbols and their non-linear, cyclical journey through history.