Covered tureen and underplate 1754 - 1755

Editor: Here we have a covered tureen and underplate made of ceramic porcelain around 1754 by Jean-Claude-Thomas Duplessis. The piece feels so opulent and intricate! I wonder, what's the significance behind such elaborate tableware? Curator: It's important to recognize that objects like these were never simply functional. During the Rococo period, pieces like this tureen functioned as statements of power and wealth, produced and consumed almost exclusively by European aristocratic elites. Its whiteness is also worth examining – porcelain was known as “white gold”, sought after for its purity, smoothness and rarity; how does its association with luxury impact your understanding? Editor: That makes sense. So, it was as much a status symbol as it was a serving dish. Were there any other social or political messages conveyed through its design? Curator: Absolutely. The Rococo style itself, with its emphasis on asymmetry, elaborate ornamentation, and natural motifs like flowers and fruit, mirrored the values of the ruling class. Think about it, the painstaking detail and artistry reflected the power and control they wielded over labor and resources, contrasting starkly with the lives of the working class. Consider the implications of who has access to beauty and luxury. Who is deemed worthy of such artistry? Editor: So, by understanding its context, this tureen can tell us about the unequal distribution of wealth and power in 18th-century society? Curator: Precisely! It serves as a reminder to critically examine how art objects reflect and perpetuate societal structures, impacting everything from class identity to labor practices and even today's environmental concerns regarding mining. Editor: I hadn't considered the impact of the extraction of resources for porcelain production, this gives me so much to consider! Thanks! Curator: Likewise. By exploring the relationship between art, society, and politics, we uncover narratives often left untold.