Wine bottle stand (one of a pair) (part of a service) 1741

Editor: Here we have a porcelain wine bottle stand, crafted around 1741 by the Meissen Manufactory. It's so ornate; almost excessive, and it has got me thinking: what do you see when you look at it? Curator: Oh, it's like stepping into a powdered-wig party, isn't it? I imagine candlelight glinting off the gold accents. To me, it screams "Rococo"— that era of playful elegance just before the French Revolution brought a sharper edge to everything. Imagine the conversations it must have overheard! Editor: So, this isn’t just a stand; it's a time capsule of excess. Curator: Exactly! Look at the swirling details, the almost cartoonish depictions of animals, the frilly piercing work up top, all practically shouting “luxury.” And you've got to wonder, doesn’t it almost feel… defiant? It's art created on the cusp of a new, grimmer, political awareness. Like one last dance before the music stops. What is your take? Editor: That is very interesting. It feels incredibly fragile considering its message! I wouldn’t dare put a wine bottle on it, I have to confess! It is like a sculpture by itself, rather than something functional. Curator: Yes, well it would be like drinking from a Fabergé egg! Still, the audacity! Even today, it whispers secrets from a world where beauty, however ephemeral, was worth any price. Food for thought, no? Editor: Absolutely. It definitely brings a whole new meaning to 'party time.' I will always consider the historical context when looking at decorative art from now on! Curator: Then our powdered wigs did their job.