A painted plate made by the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory would of course be well-designed, if not intriguing as well. Take for example the design called Les Meringues by Jean Charles Develly (1783 – 1849). In this kitchen/pantry scene, a figure viewed from behind offers meringue to a child. Is this figure a man or a woman? Research by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum about this plate design is still ongoing. Does this figure suggest indecisiveness on the part of the artist? Or is this ambiguity done on purpose? Is this figure the one who made the meringue? Would we imagine the meringue to be of a more professional quality if the figure is male, i.e. a pastry chef? If the figure is female, would the setting be deemed cozier? How would the viewer’s feelings vary if the female figure were a servant or the mother? Ambiguity at the design stage of a painted porcelain plate can make the viewer linger longer, trying out one possible explanation after another.
Jean Charles Develly (1783 – 1849). Design for a Painted Porcelain Plate, Les Meringues (Meringues) for the Service des Objets de Dessert (Dessert Service). 1819-20. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Creative Commons – No Rights Reserved. → https://www.si.edu/object/design-painted-porcelain-plate-les-meringues-meringues-service-des-objets-de-dessert-dessert-service:chndm_1989-13-30
