Saucer (part of a service) 1775 - 1790

This saucer was made by the Meissen Manufactory, which was the first European manufactory to produce porcelain. Meissen porcelain was highly prized and associated with wealth and status. Decoration, such as these hand-painted birds, made these objects even more desirable. By the 18th century, fashionable Europeans were avid collectors of natural specimens, especially birds. Aristocratic owners displayed their collections in specially designed rooms, so this kind of imagery would have appealed to them. But porcelain was also an important symbol of European power. European rulers were eager to discover the secrets of porcelain production, which had long been monopolized by China. Meissen's success in producing porcelain was a major achievement for the German Electorate of Saxony, and porcelain became an important export commodity. To better understand this saucer, historians consult manufacturer's records, collector's inventories, and period publications about fashionable taste. By studying such documents, we can better understand the complex social and economic forces that shaped the production and consumption of porcelain.