Saucer (1 of 6) (part of a service) 1715 - 1725

This is one of six Meissen saucers, made of porcelain at an unknown date. The Meissen Manufactory was established in Germany in 1710, and it was the first to produce porcelain outside of China. This saucer’s decoration is minimal, with gilt embellishments over a white ground. Floral garlands punctuated with what appear to be classical friezes circle the rim. At the center, a gold figure in a theatrical pose may represent a character from the Commedia dell’arte. The porcelain service to which the saucer belongs speaks to the culture of aristocratic dining in Europe. To understand this saucer better, we can ask: what were the meanings of elite dining practices in the 18th century? What political and economic conditions enabled the creation of these luxury goods? The answers to these questions are to be found in archives and libraries, but also in the objects themselves, if we know how to look.