Mustard pot 1739 - 1749

This porcelain mustard pot was made at the Meissen Manufactory in Germany, a center for European ceramics. Porcelain is a fascinating material. To make it, you need very specific clays, which are fired at high temperatures. The Meissen factory closely guarded its formula, to maintain its monopoly. Look closely, and you'll see the pot's surface is ornamented with relief molding, gilding, and hand-painted details. There's even a sculpted lemon on the lid. All this required immense skill. But porcelain wasn't just a beautiful material; it was also a symbol of power. European rulers like Augustus the Strong, who founded Meissen, collected porcelain to show off their wealth and sophistication. Making porcelain required highly specialized labor, from the miners who extracted the raw materials to the artists who decorated the finished product. The value of the pot lay not only in its material, but also the immense labor required to produce it. The Meissen manufactory sought to elevate the status of craft to high art. By appreciating the artistry and labor that went into its making, we gain a deeper understanding of its cultural significance.