Plate 1730 - 1745

This plate was created by the Meissen Manufactory. Its circular form, typical of its function, is disrupted by ornate decorations and figures. The design features three cherubic figures at the center and complex border decorations that combine geometric patterns with naturalistic floral and foliate motifs. Look closely at how the central figures disrupt the plate's conventional use through the semiotic language of art. These figures, seemingly suspended in a state of playful abandon, challenge fixed meanings of formality associated with tableware. The plate operates within a broader cultural context, reflecting 18th-century aesthetic values which favored decoration as a demonstration of artistry and status. The strategic disruption of form and function invites us to reconsider the categories of decorative and fine art. This plate serves not merely as a dining object but as a statement of cultural sophistication.