Artwork

Farfurie tronconică, de dimensiuni mai mici cu pereții ușor curbați și marginea evazată. Prezintă un motiv central de tip floral; pe margine două cercuri colorate. Smălțuită numai în interior. Cromatică: fond: alb; motive; verde; albastru; brun; negru.

Farfurie tronconică, de dimensiuni mai mici cu pereții ușor curbați și marginea evazată. Prezintă un motiv central de tip floral; pe margine două cercuri colorate. Smălțuită numai în interior. Cromatică: fond: alb; motive; verde; albastru; brun; negru. is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the ASTRA National Museum Complex. The object is a shallow, conical bowl with gently curved walls and an evanescent rim.

About this work

Overview

The object is a shallow, conical bowl with gently curved walls and an evanescent rim. Its interior is coated in a white ground that bears a modest floral motif rendered in blue, green and brown. The rim is accented by two narrow colored bands, one blue and one reddish, forming a simple decorative border.

Subject & Meaning

The central design consists of a stylized flower, a common decorative element in folk pottery that often symbolizes fertility or seasonal cycles. The surrounding colored circles on the rim serve as a visual frame, emphasizing the central motif without adding narrative content.

Technique & Style

The bowl appears hand‑formed, evident in the slightly irregular edge and the uneven thickness of the walls. The interior glaze is applied only to the inner surface, leaving the exterior unglazed. Pigments in green, blue, brown and black are applied over the white base, showing signs of wear and fading from use.

History & Provenance

The piece is typical of utilitarian painted ceramics produced in rural workshops, where local materials and traditional motifs were employed. Its worn brown base and faded interior suggest prolonged functional use before entering a collection.

Context

Such shallow bowls were commonly used for serving food or liquids in domestic settings, often passed down through generations. The decorative scheme aligns with regional folk aesthetics that favored modest, geometric embellishments combined with natural motifs.