Cup (part of a service) 1765 - 1775

This cup was made as part of a service by the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory. Here we see how the fashion for porcelain in Europe became intertwined with the natural sciences. Aristocrats collected porcelain, but also collected specimens of plants and animals. The painted bird on the side of the cup makes the object a miniature museum. It reflects the mania for classification in the 18th century, but also aristocratic collecting habits. This was a time when naturalists were sent around the world by wealthy patrons to collect samples, hoping to accumulate prestige and power. The cup demonstrates how power operates not just through military might, but also the collection and classification of objects. A close reading of the cup involves understanding something about the history of science and social class. To understand such objects, one must do archival research and read widely in social history.