Cup and saucer 1775

This cup and saucer was made at the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory, though the exact date of production isn't known. Porcelain is a refined material. High-firing it results in a smooth, white surface, ideal for painting. Here, the monochrome decoration depicts a fanciful scene of an Asian figure with a bird, surrounded by insects and flora. Its creation demanded great skill, from forming the clay to the precise, heat-controlled firing, which could easily result in cracking. The careful decoration is fascinating, since the designers at the Manufactory were attempting to approximate the appearance of Chinese porcelain, which had been imported to Europe for centuries, and was much admired. The European manufactories like Frankenthal were keen to capture a piece of that market for themselves. So, while this may seem a world away from urgent social issues, consider that it speaks to a globalized economy, long before that was a common phrase. It encapsulates a complex web of trade, labor, and cultural exchange, challenging any simple distinction between fine art and craft.