Artwork
Farfurie de formă aplatizată, cu fund larg și buză ușor concavă spre interior; piesa este angobată pe fața interioară cu un strat de humă albă peste care este pictat cu cornul și cu pensula, cu contur din linii fine de culoare maro, decorul format din motive florale și fitomorfe stilizate: central pe fundul farfuriei este pictată o tulpină cu trei boboci, unul galben, ceilalți doi de culoare albastră, și frunze verzi. Buza farfuriei este decorată cu patru motive florale și vegetale dispuse simetric și separate de patru motive mici formate din linii hașurate intersectat, de culoare maro. Suprafața ornamentată a farfuriei este acoperită cu un strat de smalț transparent. Cromatica: alb, maro, albastru, verde, galben.

Farfurie de formă aplatizată, cu fund larg și buză ușor concavă spre interior; piesa este angobată pe fața interioară cu un strat de humă albă peste care este pictat cu cornul și cu pensula, cu contur din linii fine de culoare maro, decorul format din motive florale și fitomorfe stilizate: central pe fundul farfuriei este pictată o tulpină cu trei boboci, unul galben, ceilalți doi de culoare albastră, și frunze verzi. Buza farfuriei este decorată cu patru motive florale și vegetale dispuse simetric și separate de patru motive mici formate din linii hașurate intersectat, de culoare maro. Suprafața ornamentată a farfuriei este acoperită cu un strat de smalț transparent. Cromatica: alb, maro, albastru, verde, galben. is a print by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Ethnographical Museum of Transylvania. A wide, shallow ceramic plate with a gently inward-curving rim, this piece features a white slip coating on its interior surface.
About this work
Overview
A wide, shallow ceramic plate with a gently inward-curving rim, this piece features a white slip coating on its interior surface.
A wide, shallow ceramic plate with a gently inward-curving rim, this piece features a white slip coating on its interior surface. Hand-painted decorations in brown, blue, green, yellow, and white are sealed under a transparent glaze. The design centers on a stylized stem with three buds and foliage, while the border alternates floral motifs with small crosshatched patterns, all rendered with fine, precise brushwork.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif—a stem bearing three buds in contrasting hues—suggests growth and natural cycles, common in folk ceramic traditions. The stylized leaves and flowers, arranged symmetrically around the rim, reflect an emphasis on order and harmony rather than botanical accuracy. The use of limited, symbolic colors implies a decorative language rooted in regional customs, possibly tied to seasonal or ritual themes.
Technique & Style
The decoration was applied by hand using fine brushes and brown outlines to define each form. Colors were laid over a white slip base, then sealed with clear glaze, preserving vibrancy. The absence of shading or chiaroscuro indicates a flat, linear approach typical of folk pottery, where clarity and repetition take precedence over naturalistic depth. The precision of the lines reveals skilled, deliberate execution.
History & Provenance
This plate belongs to a tradition of Central or Eastern European ceramic ware, likely produced in a local workshop during the late 19th or early 20th century. Its form and decoration align with regional styles that preserved indigenous motifs despite industrialization. The wear on the surface suggests regular domestic use, indicating it was part of everyday tableware rather than ceremonial display.
Context
In rural households of the period, such plates served both functional and aesthetic roles. Their designs often echoed embroidery patterns or wall paintings, linking domestic ceramics to broader folk art practices. The use of durable glaze and simple, repeatable motifs allowed for mass production while retaining handcrafted character, bridging utility and cultural expression.
Legacy
This plate exemplifies a vanishing craft tradition where pottery was shaped by local materials and inherited patterns. Its survival offers insight into pre-industrial domestic life, where beauty was integrated into daily objects. Today, such pieces are preserved as cultural artifacts, valued for their testimony to regional identity and artisanal continuity.
Artist & collection
Museum
Ethnographical Museum of Transylvania
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