Tureen with cover 1745 - 1755

This is a porcelain tureen with a cover, crafted by the Höchst Manufactory, dating back to the 18th century. The eye is immediately drawn to the symmetrical composition and the pronounced horizontal axis, giving it a grounded, stable feel. Its smooth, white surface is playfully disrupted by three-dimensional floral elements. The handles, fashioned as robust, gnarled branches, offer a tactile contrast. Miniature roses adorn the body, their delicate forms standing out against the stark whiteness. These floral decorations are not merely ornamental; they suggest a structured play between nature and artifice. Looking closer, one notes how the floral motifs destabilize the conventional boundary between the functional object and the sculptural form. The tureen’s clean, simple shape serves as a canvas where the semiotics of flowers, usually associated with fragility and beauty, meet the robust demands of the culinary world. It’s a fascinating discourse on the relationship between form and function.