The Betrothal 1745 - 1747

This porcelain sculpture, "The Betrothal," was made by the Meissen Manufactory, a German company, sometime in the 18th century. It depicts a well-dressed couple standing in what seems to be a garden, complete with cherubic figures frolicking nearby. But this isn't just a charming scene. It's a snapshot of a very specific time and place: Europe in the age of aristocracy. Porcelain, like the kind used here, was an incredibly expensive material at the time, and the Meissen Manufactory was one of the first European companies to figure out how to make it. That meant that objects like this one were status symbols, meant to show off the wealth and taste of their owners. The clothing, the idealized figures, and the very material it's made from all speak to a culture that valued refinement, luxury, and the power of the aristocracy. By studying works like this, alongside historical records and accounts, we can gain insights into the social structures and values of the past.