Small tray 1750 - 1760

Curator: Well, here we have a "Small Tray" crafted around 1750 to 1760 by the esteemed Meissen Manufactory. It resides here at the Metropolitan Museum. Editor: Oh, isn't it just charming? Immediately, I'm struck by this feeling of refined intimacy, like it's meant for a private, shared moment of, say, holding bonbons! I see delicate floral patterns blooming from the center outwards in a subtle display. Curator: Exactly! These are classic Rococo features. The porcelain provides the perfect canvas, allowing for that elaborate detail. It also carries so much cultural weight – porcelain was revolutionary when it was being pioneered in Europe. We should note the borders showcase small landscape scenes. It's like a little world within this small tray. Editor: It’s intriguing to think about what would be placed on such a tray. Symbolically, perhaps these landscapes are meant to enhance and expand the domestic experience, reminding one of the wild outdoors. Maybe suggesting leisure in manicured garden. The tray almost begs the viewer to pause and contemplate something fleeting, much like a delicate flower’s bloom, with images meant to elicit strong sense memories of scent and color. I can almost smell roses and pastry! Curator: Yes, that’s the magic of these kinds of domestic objects – their very existence and symbolic utility speaks volumes. Notice that flower arrangement— the arrangement implies order and, dare I say it, control of nature, something much enjoyed during this historical period. Editor: Yes! There’s a certain vanity to arranging nature in one's favor that’s captured here! A perfect marriage of something functional and symbolic, no? Curator: I concur! Meissen always captured the spirit of the times with grace. Editor: Absolutely! I must say, my view on afternoon teas and flower picking will be forever informed!