Cup 1730 - 1740

This porcelain cup, made by the Meissen Manufactory, reflects the global ambitions and artistic trends of 18th-century Europe. Meissen, established in 1710, was the first European factory to successfully produce hard-paste porcelain, a secret previously held only in China. The cup's decoration imitates Chinese export porcelain, featuring a detailed landscape scene. It reveals the intertwined dynamics of trade, cultural exchange, and artistic appropriation that defined the era. The landscape, likely inspired by Dutch Golden Age painting, presents a vision of maritime activity and commercial prosperity. However, this idyllic scene obscures the darker realities of colonialism and the exploitation of labor that fueled European wealth. The production of porcelain itself relied on global trade networks, connecting European consumers to distant lands and labor practices. Reflect on the layers of history embedded in this delicate object, from the artistic skill required to craft it, to the complex web of global interactions that made its creation possible.