Mortar 1730 - 1745

This mortar, now residing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, carries with it the echoes of cultural exchange. Its floral decorations, painted in underglaze blue on soft-paste porcelain, reference Chinese porcelain designs, made popular in Europe in the 18th century. The crafting of porcelain in Europe, particularly in France, was deeply intertwined with the aspirations of aristocracy, who sought to emulate the luxury goods of the East. This French soft-paste porcelain represents both artistic innovation and cultural appropriation, mimicking imported designs, while innovating within its own cultural context. Consider how this mortar reflects a moment in time when European identity was being shaped by encounters with, and interpretations of, distant lands. The object presents ideas around commerce, art, and power. It invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural exchange and the stories objects can tell.