Urn 1776 - 1777

This porcelain urn was made in Germany by the Porzellanmanufaktur Frankenthal. It is a reminder of the economic structures behind artistic production and consumption. Frankenthal was one of a number of porcelain factories founded in eighteenth-century Europe to replicate wares that had previously been imported expensively from Asia. The company grew into a powerful institution, employing many artists and workers and depending on the patronage of wealthy elites. This urn is highly decorated with classical motifs and gilded detailing. It is the kind of object that would have been displayed in the homes of aristocrats as a sign of wealth, taste, and social status. Studying the art of the past involves looking into archives and collections to discover the social and institutional contexts in which artworks were made and used. This urn reflects how art objects were entangled with social hierarchies.