Potpourri (one of a pair) 1725 - 1755

This potpourri, part of a pair, was crafted at the Saint-Cloud factory sometime between 1693 and 1766. Imagine it in the perfumed, opulent world of the French court, not merely as an object, but as an active participant in the construction of identity and power. In the 18th century, such porcelain wasn’t just decorative; it was a statement. The Saint-Cloud factory was known for its soft-paste porcelain, a French attempt to mimic the coveted hard-paste porcelain of China. This potpourri, adorned with delicate, applied flowers, speaks to the era's obsession with nature, artifice, and the senses. Consider the labor that went into such a piece: the skilled hands of artisans, each playing a part in this delicate process. It catered to an elite class, and the sweet scents emanating from it masked less pleasant odors, marking a divide between those who could afford such luxuries and those who could not. It’s a symbol of a society on the brink of transformation, caught between beauty and inequality.