Cup with a landscape 1835

This is a cup with a landscape design, created out of porcelain by Kaiserliche Porzellanmanufaktur. Notice how the eye is immediately drawn to the interplay between the delicate porcelain and the bold use of gold. The cup and saucer are structured into distinct registers. Bands of solid gold act as frames, sharply dividing the landscape scenes from the pure white porcelain, creating a layered viewing experience. The cup’s handle, a gilded flourish, disrupts the circular form, introducing a dynamic, almost baroque element. The landscapes themselves, painted with subtle colours, offer a miniaturized version of idealized nature. The strategic use of gold does more than decorate; it elevates the cup, turning an everyday object into a symbol of wealth and refined taste, reflecting the cultural values of its time. The cup becomes more than just a drinking vessel; it is a complex interplay of form, function, and meaning.