Moon flask with gilded decoration 1856 - 1880

This moon flask, made by Coalport, shimmers with gilded decoration. At its heart lies a complex, cross-shaped floral motif, a symbol resonating deeply across cultures. This central emblem echoes ancient cosmological diagrams—a visual shorthand for the universe itself. We see distant cousins of it in the rosettes of ancient Mesopotamia, emblems of divine power, and later, as heraldic devices in medieval Europe. Observe its evolution; what once represented the cosmos now signifies nobility. The flask’s paisley patterns, swirling around the central motif, are suggestive of the ‘tree of life’, symbolizing immortality and fertility. This resonates with the cross and its implications of life and growth. These recurring symbols, passed down through generations, connect us to the primal human experiences of life, death, and rebirth, evoking feelings of the sublime. It's a silent scream of cultural memory. The progression of this symbol is non-linear, cyclical, and, like life, its meaning ebbs and flows, taking on new resonance in different times.