Vase c. 1750

Editor: So, this vase by the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, dating back to around 1750, is incredibly ornate. The delicate porcelain flowers and birds give it such a whimsical, almost theatrical feel. What stories do you think it’s trying to tell? Curator: It's interesting you mention "stories." Looking at it, I see a concentration of Rococo sensibilities. The symbols are intertwined. Porcelain, itself, signified status and wealth. How does that read in your mind? Editor: It makes sense. So the vase is conveying messages of prestige and sophistication. Curator: Precisely. And notice how the birds are perched casually. The bird itself is an ancient symbol of the soul. We've found that in art across time. Do you notice where their gaze goes? Editor: Hmm, one is looking out at us and the other is toward the flowers... almost interacting with them. Curator: Exactly! Flowers speak of ephemeral beauty, which are meant to evoke the senses. In considering porcelain and the fragility and care required for such an item, where does that place it within its cultural memory? Editor: So it all comes together: fleeting beauty, the preciousness of the object, and this aspirational vision of refined living. It makes the Rococo period feel so alive! Curator: Indeed. It makes one wonder, what symbols will define our era centuries from now?