Vase with cover 1685 - 1705

Editor: This porcelain "Vase with Cover," made sometime between 1685 and 1705 by the Saint-Cloud factory, strikes me as so delicate, despite its simple shape. What's most fascinating is that rich blue decoration against the white. What catches your eye about this object? Curator: As a Materialist, I’m immediately drawn to the porcelain itself. It's not just the aesthetic result, but what does its production reveal about the society that made it? Consider the labor, the skill required, the access to materials, especially given the cultural exchange influencing this piece. What sources were inspiring that "blue"? Editor: So you're saying the story is in the sourcing of the materials, not just the pretty blue birds? Curator: Precisely. The blue itself might hint at global trade routes of the time, perhaps reflecting an engagement with Asian artistic motifs and the challenges of recreating them with local materials. Were European consumers interested in objects like this to project social prestige, demonstrating refined tastes and the ability to acquire luxury goods? The piece invites us to explore these issues surrounding consumption, skill, and cultural appropriation, rather than simply admire its decorative qualities. What impact did those "decorative qualities" have at the time on those buying and using this object? Editor: I never really considered the economic factors behind a vase like this. Curator: Exactly! Analyzing the porcelain through a Materialist lens allows us to ask questions about who profited, who labored, and whose cultural heritage was being borrowed and transformed in the process of its production and use. What does this object tell us about global exchange during that time period? Editor: It definitely provides a different context. I'll have to rethink about the vases that I find "pretty". Curator: That is all about art history. Let’s see what else we can find around this gallery.