Koffiekan 1777 - 1790

Here is a porcelain coffee pot, produced by Porseleinfabriek Den Haag. During the 18th century, porcelain coffee pots became fashionable symbols of wealth and sophistication. As commodities like coffee, sugar, and tea became more widely available, it altered social practices around the world. Within this context, the consumption of coffee became an integral part of social life, particularly amongst the upper classes. Coffee pots were not just functional objects but statements of status and taste. The decoration on this coffee pot features cherubic figures in a style that evokes classical art, suggesting a vision of purity. These images served to ennoble the ritual of coffee drinking, connecting it to broader themes of beauty, innocence, and luxury. In today’s world, this coffee pot might provoke us to consider the complex relationships between aesthetics, colonial histories, and everyday life.