MORE ON THIS: MY FAVOURITE PIECE
‘Copia’ is what the Romans called abundance – and they gave this concept a tangible form. Abundantia, the goddess with the cornucopia from which fruit, flowers and ears of corn flow. ‘Cumberland’ is the term used by porcelain connoisseurs – and they mean the most elaborate decoration to be found anywhere in the world. For Patricia Freimuth, Head of Marketing at the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory, the cup from this range is not only her favourite piece, but also a symbol: ‘For the past five years, every morning when I arrive at the manufactory, I’ve been drinking my tea from a Cumberland cup. It marks the transition from my private life to work; its exquisite appearance sets the standard for all the tasks ahead, and the opulent painting featuring flowers, butterflies and insects is as soothing as a short stroll through the palace grounds.” The favourite piece is wisely kept in the office at all times, as two little rascals are running riot through the rooms at home. Still, Franz Anton Bustelli did incorporate a game of hide-and-seek into his design, which was painted by Joseph Zächenberger in 1765. “Once the tea has been drunk, you discover a little flower on the floor,” says the 40-year-old, laughing: “That’s a more pleasant surprise than stepping on building blocks at home.” | 
