Footed Dish 1880 - 1890

This 'Footed Dish', of an unknown date, was created by Ott and Brewer using porcelain. The pale surface, formed into the shape of a shell, immediately draws the eye, its form both familiar and refined. The structure of this piece uses the semiotics of nature, yet it subtly destabilizes our expectations. The artists employ delicate vertical ribs that mimic organic growth. The gentle curve of the dish is contrasted by the precise, controlled rim of pink at the top, a deliberate intervention that highlights the artifice of the form. The shell-shaped bowl rests on a smaller, shell-shaped foot. This repetition of form creates a visual rhyme that unifies the piece, while also inviting us to consider scale and function. This dish, therefore, is not merely a vessel, but a commentary on form and aesthetic pleasure.