Mug 1745

Curator: Ah, a delicate dance between form and function! Editor: This porcelain mug, dating back to 1745, is simply delightful! It feels very whimsical. I love the cobalt blue drawings. What captures your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: The rabbit, nestled amidst the floral extravagance, makes me smile every time! There’s a lovely juxtaposition of high and low, isn’t there? Rococo was known for its elaborate ornamentation, but there's something quite intimate about this particular mug. I can almost feel someone’s hand curled around it during a quiet moment. Does that imagery resonate with you at all? Editor: Absolutely! It makes me wonder who owned it, and what they drank from it! Tea? Ale? What do you think about the decision to decorate it with a limited range of colors? Curator: Cobalt blue was prized for its vibrancy, for being capable of withstanding high firing temperatures during the porcelain-making process, you know! Perhaps it was also a conscious decision to evoke a certain kind of calm, a peacefulness amplified by the pastoral scene... A reverie over breakfast. I mean, we could dive deep into the symbolism of the rabbit, a fertile emblem and harbinger of spring… Editor: Fascinating. I hadn't considered the technical reasons for the color choice, but that totally makes sense. It gives me a lot to think about! Curator: Doesn’t it always? Porcelain has so many stories embedded inside it! Editor: Definitely food for thought, served up in a beautiful package.