Artwork
Farfurie adâncă de tip castron, cu corp tronconic și buza dreaptă, verticală. Piesa este acoperită pe suprafața interioară și pe exteriorul buzei cu un strat de angobă albă, peste care este pictat cu cornul decorul format din motive vegetale foarte stilizate: decorul de pe fundul farfuriei este păstrat doar parțial (urme de culoare maro), peretele farfuriei fiind decorat cu patru flori de culoare albastru-deschis, intercalate cu patru motive formate din linii hașurate intersectat de culoare verde, sugerând niște frunze. Două linii circulare de culoare maro, neglijent realizate, încadrează acest decor. Suprafața ornamentată a farfuriei este acoperită cu un strat de smalț transparent. Cromatica: alb, verde, maro, albastru-deschis.

Farfurie adâncă de tip castron, cu corp tronconic și buza dreaptă, verticală. Piesa este acoperită pe suprafața interioară și pe exteriorul buzei cu un strat de angobă albă, peste care este pictat cu cornul decorul format din motive vegetale foarte stilizate: decorul de pe fundul farfuriei este păstrat doar parțial (urme de culoare maro), peretele farfuriei fiind decorat cu patru flori de culoare albastru-deschis, intercalate cu patru motive formate din linii hașurate intersectat de culoare verde, sugerând niște frunze. Două linii circulare de culoare maro, neglijent realizate, încadrează acest decor. Suprafața ornamentată a farfuriei este acoperită cu un strat de smalț transparent. Cromatica: alb, verde, maro, albastru-deschis. is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Ethnographical Museum of Transylvania.
About this work
Overview
Its surface was treated with a white slip and sealed under transparent glaze, though wear has left only fragments of the original decoration visible.
A ceramic plate with a truncated conical body and straight, vertical rim, this object was once part of a broader tradition of glazed earthenware. Its surface was treated with a white slip and sealed under transparent glaze, though wear has left only fragments of the original decoration visible. Faint brown smudges and traces of blue and green pigment suggest a once-brighter design, now largely faded or abraded over time.
Subject & Meaning
The decoration, though heavily worn, originally featured stylized floral motifs and abstract leaf-like forms rendered in blue and green. These vegetal patterns, arranged in alternating bands around the interior wall, reflect a symbolic connection to nature, common in regional ceramic traditions. The repetition of motifs implies a decorative code rather than narrative intent, possibly tied to seasonal cycles or domestic symbolism.
Technique & Style
The plate was formed from coarse clay, coated in white slip before painting. Pigments—blue, green, and brown—were applied with simple brushwork, then sealed under a clear glaze. The circular boundary lines framing the design are unevenly drawn, indicating hand-painted execution without strict templates. The style is highly stylized, reducing natural forms to linear, rhythmic patterns suited to the curved surface.
History & Provenance
The object bears a faint numerical mark, likely a museum or collection inventory label, suggesting it was documented in a curated setting. Its condition—cracked, faded, and partially abraded—indicates prolonged use or exposure before preservation. It likely originated in a rural or artisanal context, where such wares were functional yet decorated according to local aesthetic norms.
Context
This plate belongs to a regional ceramic tradition found in Eastern Europe, where similar glazed earthenware was produced from the medieval period into the early modern era. Its simple forms and vegetal motifs align with household pottery made for daily use, contrasting with more elaborate courtly wares. The use of slip and glaze reflects accessible, locally sourced materials and techniques passed through generations.
Legacy
Though its decorative elements are now barely legible, the plate retains evidence of craftsmanship and cultural continuity. It contributes to the understanding of everyday material culture in pre-industrial communities, where even utilitarian objects carried symbolic ornamentation. Its survival in museum collections underscores the value placed on ordinary artifacts as records of lived experience.
Artist & collection
Museum
Ethnographical Museum of Transylvania
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