Mustard pot 1735 - 1750

This mustard pot was made at the Meissen Manufactory, which began producing hard-paste porcelain in 1710. The vessel is slip-cast to create a perfectly uniform shape, enabling efficient production. Its surface is decorated with intricate monochrome painting, framed by gilded highlights to accentuate the fine details and forms. But this isn't just decoration; it's a display of the alchemical knowledge that Meissen brought to the European table. Porcelain production in this era involved a complex interplay of specialized skills, from mining and refining the raw materials to modelling, firing, and painting. The division of labor created stratified classes within the manufactory. Each worker contributed to the final object, yet few had control over the entire process. Considering this mustard pot reminds us that even everyday objects can be understood as the result of immense technical innovation and artistic labor. It encourages us to see ceramics not just as craft or design, but as significant cultural artifacts shaped by social, economic, and technical forces.