Saucer (part of a service) 1765 - 1775

This delicate saucer was created by the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory. Picture this object in the context of 18th-century Europe, where porcelain was more than just tableware. It was a symbol of status and wealth, reflecting the societal hierarchies of the time. Porcelain services like this one were often commissioned by the elite, with each piece meticulously crafted and decorated, embodying the cultural values and aesthetic preferences of the upper classes. The painted bird and landscape, seemingly innocent, were part of a larger visual language that conveyed ideas about nature, harmony, and the exotic. Yet, beneath the surface, these images were also entangled with narratives of colonialism and trade, as porcelain itself was a product of global exchange and cultural appropriation. Consider, too, how this saucer might have been used in social rituals such as tea ceremonies. What stories does it tell about gender, class, and the performance of identity in the 1700s? This piece asks us to reflect on the ways in which seemingly mundane objects can carry profound cultural meanings and histories.