Wine bowl with cover c. 1750 - 1780

This is a wine bowl with cover, created by Capo di Monte. Though undated, Capo di Monte refers to a porcelain factory which originally opened in Naples, Italy in 1743. The vessel's elegant, curving form and the delicate grapevines that climb across its surfaces speak to a culture of luxury and refinement. Objects like these were not merely functional; they were emblems of status and taste. This bowl evokes the opulence of aristocratic life, yet, we might also consider what was left out of the picture. Who produced these pieces? What were their lives like? Consider how the beauty of the piece might obscure the labor and the social inequalities that enabled its creation. The bowl invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between art, history, and power.