Two-handled Cup and Saucer 1720 - 1725

This Two-handled Cup and Saucer was crafted by the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory, featuring gilded birds and flora on a pristine white canvas. These motifs aren't merely decorative; they represent a profound connection to nature, a yearning for pastoral harmony. Consider the bird, a symbol that takes flight across cultures—from ancient Egyptian depictions of the soul as a bird, to its association with freedom and divine messengers in countless mythologies. Here, the gilded rendering elevates the bird to an emblem of luxury, yet the subconscious yearning for freedom persists. And the flora, echoing themes of growth, renewal, and the cyclical nature of life. These symbols resonate with our deepest memories, a collective unconscious projecting onto these delicate forms. The cup and saucer, then, become more than mere objects; they are vessels of cultural memory, carrying echoes of human experience through time.