Saucer with a roundel and ornamental borders after 1820

This is a porcelain saucer with gold ornamentation, made by the Fabriek Dominique Denuelle. The whiteness of the base is due to the use of kaolin clay, which when fired at high temperatures, becomes hard, non-porous, and brilliantly white. Gilding is then carefully applied as a liquid and fired again, fusing to the glazed surface. See how the wide band of gold leaf inside the saucer catches and reflects the light. This gilding wasn’t just for show; it signified luxury, the wealth of the owner, and by implication, the skill of the makers. The process of making porcelain objects like this, particularly with such lavish ornament, was highly specialized, divided among skilled laborers. From the mixing of the clay, to molding, firing, painting, and gilding, each step required expertise. Looking at the surface you can begin to appreciate the amount of labor, expertise and resources involved in its production, and the high status it would have signified.