Cup and saucer 1780 - 1785

Here is the script: This cup and saucer were produced by the Vinovo Porcelain Manufactory. Notice the coat of arms emblazoned on each piece. This isn’t mere decoration; it’s a powerful statement about the consumer and the world of courtly life in the eighteenth century. Though the specific date of its manufacture is unknown, we might consider how the geographic location of the manufactory in Vinovo, Italy, influenced the cup and saucer. Vinovo was under the rule of the House of Savoy, and the manufactory received patronage from the royal family. The cup and saucer feature imagery of lions, weaponry, and a crown. These would have been understood as allegiances to power and nobility. These objects are not simply for drinking from; they are carefully crafted tools of social distinction. The historian might ask, what was the market for these goods? Were they used as diplomatic gifts? What does their survival tell us about the history of collecting and display?