Cover with grapevines c. 1800

This covered porcelain cup, adorned with painted grapevines, was crafted by the Kaiserliche Porzellanmanufaktur. Consider the role that porcelain played within elite European society. Highly prized, porcelain cups like this one were traded and collected, embodying power and prestige. The delicate grapevine decoration speaks to a longing for nature and a sense of cultivated leisure. However, the cup's beauty masks a complex history. European porcelain production was built upon colonial exploitation and trade. The raw materials often came from distant lands, extracted through the labor of enslaved or exploited people. This cup is also an artifact of cultural exchange, reflecting Europe's fascination with and appropriation of imagery from other cultures. As you observe this object, think about the stories it silently carries—of artistry and privilege, but also of the hidden costs of global trade and colonial power.