Cup and saucer c. 1780 - 1790

This charming cup and saucer were produced at the Caughley, or Salopian, Works, a porcelain manufactory in Shropshire, England. Made from fine white porcelain, the set is decorated with a delicate blue underglaze. But what appears delicate demanded a great deal of labor. Firstly, the clay would have been mined, processed, and carefully molded. Then comes the precise application of the cobalt-based blue pigment. Finally, the pieces would be fired at high temperature to vitrify the clay, and bring out the color. This division of labor allowed factories to take hold and create these luxury items for an expanding middle class. Considering this cup and saucer, the intense processes of extraction, making, and decoration are all there to see. We begin to understand how handmade objects like this are born from a complex system of people, and things, making craft and labor a significant part of our shared cultural narrative.