Porringer with cover and stand 1735 - 1740

This is a porcelain porringer with a cover and stand, crafted by the Meissen Manufactory. The delicate floral motifs, rendered with meticulous detail, draw our eye. These aren't mere decorations; they are symbolic carriers of cultural memory. Consider how floral patterns have adorned objects across millennia, from ancient Egyptian pottery to Renaissance tapestries. The rose, a common motif, has traversed from symbolizing love and beauty in classical mythology to becoming emblems of secrecy and martyrdom. On this porringer, the flowers perhaps evoke a sense of idyllic, pastoral life, a longing for nature amidst the artifice of courtly existence. Such imagery taps into our collective unconscious, a shared repository of symbols and meanings. The cyclical nature of blossoming flowers resonates with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The emotional power of these symbols lies in their ability to engage viewers on a subconscious level, stirring deep-seated feelings and associations. These symbols aren't static; they evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings, echoing through time in a continuous, non-linear progression.