Cup and Saucer 1876 - 1892

Ott and Brewer made this cup and saucer, but its date is unknown; it is now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a work of decorative art, this porcelain piece reflects the late 19th-century American interest in luxury goods and refined domesticity. Consider the imagery: delicate wheat stalks painted in gold. This speaks to the economic importance of agriculture in America at the time, but also idealizes rural life, a common theme in art meant for urban consumers. The labor involved in farming is erased, and wheat is presented purely as a symbol of abundance. Examining Ott and Brewer's company history might reveal who their target consumers were. Were they catering to a particular class or region? Did they exhibit at world fairs, signaling an ambition to compete with European porcelain manufacturers? These are the kinds of questions that help us understand the social life of this elegant, but ultimately everyday, object.