Mug 1765 - 1775

This porcelain mug was crafted in Bristol, adorned with figures that speak volumes about cultural exchange. Notice the Chinese figures painted on its surface, a vogue during a period when the West was both fascinated and entwined with the East through trade. The woman, perhaps an aristocratic figure, carrying what appears to be a lantern, reminds us of similar figures in Chinese silk paintings of the time. Now, consider how the lantern—a symbol of guidance and enlightenment—reappears in European art, albeit transformed. Think of the medieval allegories where lanterns represented divine wisdom, or even modern interpretations of the 'light bringer' in various philosophical narratives. The mug embodies cultural memory; each motif carries its historical weight, subconsciously impacting our perception, a testament to how visual symbols traverse time.