Chinese Couple 1732 - 1742

This pair of porcelain figures called “Chinese Couple” was made in Meissen, Germany, in the early 18th century. These figures reflect Europe’s fascination with the exotic "Orient". The Meissen factory, being the first to discover the formula for hard-paste porcelain, catered to aristocratic tastes. The figures, though titled “Chinese Couple”, are European fantasies. We can tell that the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. During this period, porcelain was considered "white gold," a luxury item associated with wealth and status. By producing this type of ware, the Meissen factory fulfilled Europe’s demand for chinoiserie. This pair would have been displayed in elite households, reflecting their owners' worldliness and wealth. The social conditions that shaped this piece were bound to the desire of European nobility to display their global reach. Historians consult trade records, diary entries, and museum collections to better understand the cultural and institutional contexts that define art. Art's meaning is contingent on its social and institutional setting.