Saucer (part of a set) 1730 - 1745

This porcelain saucer was created by the Meissen Manufactory. Notice how the central image is framed within the circular form, activating the interplay between interior and exterior. The sparse application of monochrome decoration enhances the whiteness of the porcelain, emphasizing the material's purity and the delicate craftsmanship. The scene in the center—a man, a child, and flora—is composed with careful attention to balance and negative space. The detailed border with floral motifs adds complexity, yet it remains subordinate to the central scene. What we see is a structured arrangement of pictorial space, where form and void articulate a narrative. It exemplifies a semiotic engagement, where the visual components—the figures, flora, and fauna—function as signs within a coded cultural context. Observe the precision with which the Meissen Manufactory employed the circular format to construct meaning. It exemplifies how artistic expression is not merely decorative but deeply involved with fundamental aesthetic and philosophical principles.