Coffee cup (part of a service) 1755 - 1765

Editor: This is a porcelain coffee cup, part of a service, made sometime between 1755 and 1765 by the Doccia Porcelain Manufactory. The sculptural relief on its surface makes it feel incredibly opulent. What does it bring to mind for you? Curator: Well, looking at the materials, the use of porcelain points us immediately to trade routes, colonial exploitation, and the desire of European powers to emulate Asian ceramics. This wasn't just a drinking vessel; it was a display of wealth, status, and access to global resources obtained through often brutal means. Editor: So the cup itself becomes a symbol of something larger? Curator: Precisely. The means of its production -- the mining of the kaolin clay, the labour of the artisans, and the global networks needed for distribution -- all speak volumes about the social and economic structures of the time. How does understanding this change your perspective? Editor: It makes me consider the artistry in a totally different light, and recognize its cost, especially for a privileged consumer. Curator: Think also of the artistic labour involved here, the sculpting of these miniature figures in such detail on such a small, precious surface. The form emphasizes its function, so its significance relies on being functional for upper-class women in Europe and beyond. Editor: I’m seeing it now, a confluence of artistic skill, the realities of manufacture, and a consumer’s place in the world. Thank you for bringing that to light. Curator: My pleasure! These everyday objects contain entire worlds within them, don't they?