Basket c. 1770

This porcelain basket was made by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. Notice the clean, curvilinear forms created through the intricate lattice-work around the basket’s rim and base. The interplay between solid porcelain and the voids of the lattice create an interesting balance between presence and absence. The central floral design, rendered in cobalt blue, provides a focal point that is both decorative and structurally important. The choice of blue against the white porcelain emphasizes the meticulous detail, highlighting the naturalistic yet stylized depiction of the flowers. This monochrome palette reduces the artwork to its essential forms and patterns. Consider how the basket’s design invites a semiotic reading. The floral patterns can be interpreted as signs of nature and elegance, while the basket itself signifies containment and display. The strategic use of negative space and color is not merely ornamental; it is a deliberate act of structuring perception, creating a dynamic visual experience that challenges fixed notions of form and function in decorative arts.