Saucer with a bouquet and flower sprays c. 1900 - 1949

This porcelain saucer, made by the Kaiserliche Porzellanmanufaktur, features a delicate bouquet and floral sprays. I can imagine the artist carefully mixing their pigments, building the image up from light washes of color. The rose, centrally placed, anchors the composition with its gentle pinks and greens, while little blue sprigs and an orange tulip peek out, adding liveliness. There's a sense of balance, with each element responding to the others. It’s a beautiful example of the kind of decorative work that blurs the line between fine art and design. It reminds me of other artists who work within a tradition, but bring their own sensibility to it. I think that making this plate might have been like keeping a sketchbook, but on a curved surface. Each brushstroke holds meaning, even if it’s just the pleasure of applying color to form. The flowers dance across the surface, and it reminds you that artists are always in conversation, building on what came before.