Artwork

Farfurie adâncă, acoperită pe suprafața interioară cu un strat de angobă albă. Decorul este realizat prin pictare cu pensula și se compune din motive florale și fitomorfe: central pe fundul farfuriei este pictată o floare cu patru petale alungite de culoare maro deschis si o petală albastră și frunze verzi. Decorul de pe buza farfuriei se compune dintr-un șir de flori de culoare maro cu frunze verzi. Suprafața ornamentată a farfuriei este acoperită cu un strat de smalț transparent. Cromatica: alb, verde, albastru, maro-deschis.

Farfurie adâncă, acoperită pe suprafața interioară cu un strat de angobă albă. Decorul este realizat prin pictare cu pensula și se compune din motive florale și fitomorfe: central pe fundul farfuriei este pictată o floare cu patru petale alungite de culoare maro deschis si o petală albastră și frunze verzi. Decorul de pe buza farfuriei se compune dintr-un șir de flori de culoare maro cu frunze verzi. Suprafața ornamentată a farfuriei este acoperită cu un strat de smalț transparent. Cromatica: alb, verde, albastru, maro-deschis. is a print by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Ethnographical Museum of Transylvania.

About this work

Overview

This ceramic plate features a rounded form with an interior surface coated in white engobe, providing a soft, pale ground for painted decoration.

This ceramic plate features a rounded form with an interior surface coated in white engobe, providing a soft, pale ground for painted decoration. A transparent glaze covers the entire ornate surface, preserving the pigments while lending a subtle sheen. The overall appearance is modest and utilitarian, with signs of wear suggesting everyday use. The palette is restrained, relying on muted tones of white, green, blue, and light brown.

Subject & Meaning

The central motif is a stylized flower with four elongated brown petals and a single blue petal, flanked by green leaves. Around the rim, smaller brown flowers with green foliage form a continuous band. These botanical elements reflect a naturalistic tradition common in regional ceramics, possibly symbolizing growth, fertility, or seasonal cycles. The absence of figural or geometric patterns suggests a focus on organic forms rooted in local aesthetic values.

Technique & Style

Decoration was applied freehand with a brush, resulting in uneven lines and softly faded edges rather than precise outlines. The paint layers appear thin and slightly irregular, indicating hand-painted execution without the use of stencils or molds. The brushwork conveys a sense of immediacy and informal craftsmanship, contrasting with more rigidly structured decorative traditions. The muted coloration and subtle imperfections reflect a functional, non-elite production context.

History & Provenance

The plate originates from a ceramic tradition in Eastern Europe, likely produced in a rural or small-town workshop during the late 19th or early 20th century. Its construction and decoration align with regional practices documented in the Museum of Ethnography’s collections. The wear on the surface and the simplicity of design suggest domestic use rather than ceremonial or display purposes, pointing to its place in ordinary household life.

Context

This plate belongs to a broader category of folk ceramics produced across Eastern Europe, where household pottery often featured hand-painted floral motifs derived from local flora. Unlike mass-produced wares, such pieces were made in small batches using locally sourced clay and pigments. The use of engobe and transparent glaze reflects accessible, low-technology methods suited to village kilns, distinguishing it from urban or industrial ceramics of the same period.

Legacy

Though not signed or attributed to a specific artisan, the plate exemplifies a widespread vernacular ceramic tradition that persisted into the modern era. Its preservation in ethnographic collections highlights its value as a material record of everyday aesthetics and craft practices. Similar pieces continue to inform studies of rural material culture, offering insight into how ordinary people engaged with beauty through functional objects.