Hot water pitcher 1759 - 1762

Curator: Here we have a "Hot water pitcher," manufactured by the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory. Editor: Wow, it’s so delicate! It feels like it belongs in a dollhouse, though that battle scene is a little intense for afternoon tea. Curator: It's interesting, isn't it? Pink battle scenes evoke a very different emotional response than, say, greyscale. Perhaps it speaks to the romanticized view of warfare at the time. Editor: Yes, that's a great point! It almost transforms violence into something ornamental, part of the aesthetic pleasure... though maybe a little disturbing when you think too hard about it. Curator: It's definitely a striking juxtaposition, a reminder of how symbols can be recontextualized and reinterpreted across time, imbuing them with new, sometimes conflicting meanings. Editor: Well, next time I’m feeling conflicted, I’ll remember this hot water pitcher. What a strange, beautiful object.