The culture of the carefully laid table is reflected in multifaceted ways in the painted decoration of stoneware and porcelain. Naturalistic motifs have always enjoyed the greatest popularity. When a rooster crows in an idyllic landscape, or crickets chirp in the Service japonais, when a chrysanthemum unfurls its splendor across whisper-thin eggshell china or people frolic in colorful lyrical settings, our hearts leap with joy. We even feel a childlike glee when we can choose the color of our cup depending on our mood!