Mirror (one of a pair) 1745 - 1755

This mirror was crafted by the Meissen Manufactory. The baroque style is immediately apparent in its elaborate ornamentation, with porcelain elements applied to a wooden core. Observe how the composition revolves around a central, vacant rectangle – a void framed by layers of meticulously crafted detail. The eye is drawn to the asymmetrical balance achieved through the placement of sculptural components such as crowned birds, floral garlands and armorial crests. The textural contrast between the smooth porcelain and the intricate details of the applied ornaments creates a dynamic visual rhythm, hinting at the Rococo's challenge to classical order. In semiotic terms, the mirror functions as a signifier, reflecting not only the viewer's image but also the values and aspirations of the society that produced it. Its ornamental exuberance speaks to the 18th-century fascination with surface and display, but also of questions of power, identity, and the gaze. The mirror serves as a complex interplay of form and meaning, inviting contemplation and a re-evaluation of its cultural and historical significance.