Artwork
Farfurie mare, lată, cu buză răsfrântă. Este modelată la roata olarului și angobată cu humă albă pe fața interioară. Decorul este realizat prin pictare cu cornul și cu pensula și se compune din motive decorative florale stilizate (buchet central, pe fundul farfuriei) și motive geometrice variate, dispuse pe buza farfuriei. Cromatica: alb, brun, verde, galben, albastru. Fața interioară a farfuriei este acoperită de un strat de smalț transparent.

Farfurie mare, lată, cu buză răsfrântă. Este modelată la roata olarului și angobată cu humă albă pe fața interioară. Decorul este realizat prin pictare cu cornul și cu pensula și se compune din motive decorative florale stilizate (buchet central, pe fundul farfuriei) și motive geometrice variate, dispuse pe buza farfuriei. Cromatica: alb, brun, verde, galben, albastru. Fața interioară a farfuriei este acoperită de un strat de smalț transparent. 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
A large, hand-thrown ceramic plate with a flared, uneven rim, this vessel was crafted on a potter’s wheel and coated internally with a white slip. Its surface bears traces of wear and minor cracking, indicative of prolonged use. A transparent glaze seals the interior, preserving painted decoration while the exterior remains unadorned and slightly chipped, reflecting its functional origins.
Subject & Meaning
These designs, likely drawn from local ornamental traditions, do not depict narrative scenes but instead serve as rhythmic, symbolic embellishments.
The interior decoration features stylized floral motifs centered on the base, accompanied by geometric patterns along the rim. These designs, likely drawn from local ornamental traditions, do not depict narrative scenes but instead serve as rhythmic, symbolic embellishments. Their repetition and symmetry suggest an aesthetic preference for order and harmony in daily life rather than religious or mythological reference.
Technique & Style
Pigments derived from natural minerals were applied with brush and possibly a reed pen to create fine lines and broad washes in white, brown, green, yellow, and blue. The slip coating provided a smooth base for painting, while the transparent glaze, fired to a glassy finish, protected the design from moisture and abrasion. The uneven rim and subtle imperfections confirm handcrafting, not mass production.
History & Provenance
This plate originates from a rural ceramic tradition, likely produced in the 18th or 19th century in Eastern Europe. Its materials and methods align with regional pottery workshops that supplied household wares. Similar pieces are held in the Museum of Ethnography, where they are contextualized as part of everyday domestic material culture rather than ceremonial objects.
Context
In its time, such plates were common in peasant households, used for serving food and stored in simple cupboards. Their decoration, though modest, distinguished them from utilitarian vessels. The use of durable glaze and resilient pigments indicates an understanding of practical needs, balancing beauty with longevity in a pre-industrial economy.
Legacy
Though not signed or attributed to a specific artisan, this plate represents a widespread craft tradition that persisted across generations. Today, it is valued not for rarity but for its testimony to vernacular aesthetics and the quiet artistry embedded in ordinary objects. Its preservation allows modern viewers to encounter the tactile and visual rhythms of domestic life from centuries past.
Artist & collection
Museum
Ethnographical Museum of Transylvania
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