Dish with a flower basket

About this artwork

diameter 38 cm

Art Historical Context

This elegant *Dish with a Flower Basket*, created by an anonymous artisan around 1700–1724, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of early 18th-century decorative arts. Measuring 38 cm in diameter, this substantial serving dish features a central motif of a flower basket, popular symbol of abundance and natural beauty that adorned household wares during an era of growing trade in luxury ceramics and pottery across Europe and Asia. The medium of "turning"—a lathe-based technique—allowed for the dish's precise, symmetrical form and smooth surfaces, showcasing the potter's technical mastery. Often used to refine wheel-thrown clay, turning produced objects with a polished, almost jewel-like finish, ideal for both functional use and display in affluent homes. As an anonymous work, it reflects the collaborative workshops of the time, where skilled but unnamed makers contributed to the opulent tablewares that defined Baroque-era dining culture. Visitors will appreciate its blend of utility and artistry, a testament to everyday luxury from over three centuries ago.

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...