Potpourri Vase c. 1765

This potpourri vase was created by the Chelsea Factory, a London-based workshop operating in the 18th century. It's made of soft-paste porcelain, decorated with colorful enamels and gilding. Porcelain, often called ‘white gold,’ demanded specialized knowledge and skill, making it a luxury good from the outset. This particular type, known as ‘soft-paste,’ was an early European attempt to imitate true Chinese porcelain. The body of the vase is carefully molded into a complex, curving form. Roses and other flowers are painted with great precision in the panels. The pierced lid, essential for releasing the fragrance of the potpourri, displays the incredible control the makers had over the material. This vase exemplifies the 18th-century obsession with luxury and refinement. The combination of skilled labor, costly materials, and fashionable design speaks to the hierarchies of production and consumption, underscoring the intricate relationship between art, craft, and social status.