Dish 1730 - 1740

This dish was made by the Meissen Manufactory, one of the first European producers of porcelain, during a period when European artists and artisans were heavily influenced by Asian aesthetics. The dish, with its delicate, hand-painted design of exotic birds and flora, reflects the popular 18th-century trend of "chinoiserie" – a European interpretation of Chinese and East Asian artistic traditions. While it celebrates a fantasized version of the East, it also reflects the socio-economic dynamics of the time. Porcelain was highly sought after and symbolized wealth and status. The artists, likely anonymous artisans within the Meissen factory, adapted and re-imagined oriental motifs to suit European tastes, creating a blend of cultural exchange and appropriation. The decoration is an aesthetic nod to another culture, simplified and altered, reminding us of the complexities of cultural encounters.