Coffee Cup and Saucer 1775 - 1780

This dainty cup and saucer were produced by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. The company was founded in 1751, but without a date, it is hard to know when this particular piece was made. What we do know is that English porcelain became immensely popular during the 18th century. Consider the complicated history embedded in this object. Sugar, porcelain, and of course, coffee, fueled the colonial project. English ladies sipping from delicate porcelain cups participated, perhaps unknowingly, in a vast network of extraction, enslavement, and global trade. The charming, decorative design with its trellis and sprigs belies the economic engine that made these items available. These objects speak to a time of empire and its profound consequences. And yet, the intimate scale of the cup and saucer also encourages us to reflect on the personal rituals of consumption and the quiet moments of pleasure they provide.