Coffeepot 1720 - 1730

This is a porcelain coffeepot made by the Meissen Manufactory in Germany in the early 18th century. But, this object is more than just a vessel for a caffeinated beverage; it's a signifier of shifting social rituals and economic transformations. As coffee culture spread through Europe, so too did the demand for specialized goods like this one. Meissen, the first European manufactory to master the production of hard-paste porcelain, profited from this demand, producing luxury wares for the aristocratic class. The decoration on this pot, with its stylized motifs, speaks to the era's fascination with ornamentation and display of wealth. These kinds of objects can tell us a lot about the culture of consumption and taste in 18th-century Europe. By studying such artifacts, along with archival documents, and design patterns, we gain a deeper understanding of the social forces that shaped artistic production.