Double-gourd vase (one of a pair) 1737 - 1747

These double-gourd vases were made in Germany in the 18th century by Adam Friedrich von Löwenfinck. At the time, the production of porcelain was a status symbol. Löwenfinck trained at Meissen, the first European factory to successfully produce hard-paste porcelain. The vases mimic the shape and decoration of Chinese porcelain, coveted imports that were collected by European elites. This cultural appropriation speaks to the power dynamics between Europe and Asia. The bright yellow glaze, the delicate floral motifs, and the double-gourd shape all reflect an aesthetic fascination with the exotic and the opulent. But what do these appropriations mean? Do they reflect a genuine appreciation for another culture, or are they a form of cultural dominance? These pieces invite us to consider the complex relationship between imitation, admiration, and power.