Dish 1720 - 1740

This porcelain dish was created by the Meissen Manufactory, and it presents a scene laden with symbols reflecting Europe's fascination with the Orient. At the center, figures engage in what appears to be a ritualistic offering. The man holding a cross shaped object, the child with what looks like a small tree, and the woman seated. Such scenes, often inspired by travelers' tales and artistic interpretations, carry echoes of religious reverence, yet their understanding was often filtered through a Western lens. Consider how motifs like the pagoda and the bird are repurposed across cultures and epochs. They appear in varied contexts, each time adapting to new interpretations. The emotional power lies in our collective subconscious. When we see these images, we evoke feelings of spirituality and peace across time. This dish, like many artworks, reveals the non-linear progression of symbols, their evolution, and their constant resurfacing in new contexts.