Saucer 1878

Curator: At the Art Institute of Chicago, we find this beautiful "Saucer," created around 1878 by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. Immediately striking, isn't it? Editor: Yes, it’s surprisingly whimsical for porcelain. The arrangements are a little irregular and dreamlike. I feel an immediate sense of lightness and charm. It makes me want to dress up. Curator: It does evoke a playful mood. Consider the composition – the scattered motifs across the stark white background, creating an asymmetrical, dynamic balance. I mean, is there a sort of hidden grammar in those graphics? It’s all just a tad “off,” lending that feeling of something precious but casual. Editor: Absolutely, the geometry has this deconstructed aesthetic, doesn't it? The choice of matte colours with the black graphic makes the surface shimmer as the soft pink maple leaves offer a softer, warmer touch. Also that golden edging. Curator: Notice how those various geometric emblems might allude to coded visual vocabularies popular within decorative arts circles. These Asian inspired ceramic and porcelain works also represent an embrace of exoticism prevalent during that time period. Editor: I appreciate how the arrangement encourages the eye to dance across the piece; like wandering around a fascinating curiosity cabinet. The glaze, or maybe the firing of the glaze, seems unusually soft; one of my very favourite surfaces. You want to touch it. Curator: I see exactly what you mean. It's like capturing fleeting impressions onto an object of permanence. You can trace back all sorts of interpretations on design, colonialism, and culture on an otherwise decorative trinket. And what that offers is this sense of both belonging and disconnect between East and West, design and decor. Editor: What I think I really cherish is how this piece invites one to question and embrace an eclectic worldview. A true celebration of seeing something anew!