Cup 1720 - 1735

This cup was made by the Meissen Manufactory. At first glance, the cup is striking for its monochrome palette and carefully rendered details. Note how the main scene is framed by elaborate, stylized motifs above and below. These decorative elements contrast sharply with the central scene which depicts an alchemist at work amidst his tools and concoctions. The stark lines and shapes emphasize the cup's functionality and form. The artist's use of monochrome is not merely aesthetic, but engages with the semiotic reduction to basic forms, inviting us to consider the binary oppositions inherent in representation. In its historical context, this work challenges fixed categories of art and craft. The Meissen Manufactory elevated porcelain production to a high art, and thus, destabilized traditional hierarchies of artistic value. This cup offers a fascinating intersection of form, function, and cultural meaning.