Cup and saucer 1754 - 1770

This delicate cup and saucer was crafted by the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory. These objects offer a glimpse into the social rituals and material culture of the past. Porcelain was once called 'white gold', and its presence on a table signalled wealth and status. In Europe, porcelain production and consumption were tied to colonial expansion and trade with Asia. As colonizers extracted resources and labor from colonized lands, objects like this cup and saucer became symbols of European power and privilege. The floral motifs, rendered in delicate brushstrokes, reflect European tastes and aesthetics. These objects remind us of the intertwined histories of trade, colonialism, and artistic production. Consider how such objects, once symbols of wealth, now invite reflection on the complex legacy of our shared past.