Saucer c. 1740

Editor: This saucer, a porcelain piece made by Meissen, features a bustling harbor scene framed in gold. It’s quite small, but the detail is incredible. What strikes you most about this object? Curator: Well, let’s consider Meissen's porcelain itself. It represented a kind of technological and economic power. It was one of the first European manufacturers to master true hard-paste porcelain, breaking China's monopoly. Editor: So the saucer itself is a symbol of shifting economic power? Curator: Exactly. And look at the scene depicted. The very act of producing and consuming such refined wares speaks volumes about social class and colonial trade routes. What do you think? Editor: It makes me see it beyond just a pretty object – it is a product of a specific time and place. Curator: Precisely. Thinking about the material realities unlocks so much.