Sugar bowl with cover (part of a service) 1715 - 1725

This sugar bowl with cover was crafted at the Meissen Manufactory in Germany, a pivotal institution in the history of European ceramics. Meissen, established in the early 18th century, held a royal monopoly, producing porcelain that was once exclusive to China and Japan. The elaborate gold decoration on this piece mimics Asian motifs. These reflect Europe’s fascination with the East and also signal wealth and status. The story of this sugar bowl cannot be separated from the history of colonialism and global trade. Sugar, once a rare luxury, became a staple due to its cultivation in the Americas through enslaved labor. This bowl, therefore, represents a complex intersection of artistic innovation, imperial power, and social inequality. Historians examine trade records, museum archives, and social histories to unpack these connections. By doing so, we reveal how seemingly decorative objects can be deeply embedded in broader social and institutional structures.