Set off center on a simple coupe shape plate of white bone china, Minton artists present a...
Set off center on a simple coupe shape plate of white bone china, Minton artists present a still life of Japanese objects, two vases on a bamboo stand, the larger of which holds an unruly spray of blossoms. The stand, smaller vase, and flowers are painted in bright, but flat enamels. More extraordinary, however, is the large aubergine and blue vase, executed in thick enamels that stand out from the surface of the plate and strongly suggest the rounded form of the vessel. These heavy enamels recall those employed in Minton's cloisonne inspired decoration.
The central vase deserves even closer attention. note how the blue ovoid fruit of the vase's decoration subtly echoes the form of the vase itself. The artist then adds a genius touch of verisimilitude--patches of white reflected light that define the vase's curve and even reveal the panes of the window that is the source of the reflected light.
A simple band of edge gilding is all that is needed to finish the composition.