Saucer 1735 - 1755

This saucer was crafted by the Meissen Manufactory, known for its pioneering work in European porcelain. These porcelains were objects of desire and status in the 18th century and signal the rising merchant classes, colonialism, and global trade. Looking closely, you can see a bird on a flowering tree, images often borrowed from East Asian art. This borrowing reveals the appropriation of aesthetics from other cultures, repackaged for European consumption. These objects raise questions about trade, wealth, and the creation of class distinctions. As you contemplate this seemingly delicate object, consider the complexities of its origins, the lives it has touched, and the stories it silently carries.