Cup and saucer 1760 - 1770

This delicate cup and saucer were made at the Meissen Manufactory, the first European factory to produce true porcelain, initiating a craze that swept across the continent. The floral patterns, painted in monochrome, echo designs found on Chinese export porcelain, which was highly prized in Europe at the time. By imitating these designs, Meissen sought to capture a share of the lucrative market for luxury goods. This cup and saucer reflect the culture of courtly life and the rise of coffee houses as centers for social and political exchange. They also point to global trade networks and the dynamics of cultural exchange and imitation. Art historians examine factory records, pattern books, and trade documents to understand better the social and economic context in which these objects were made and used. The meaning of even the most seemingly decorative art is contingent on its place in a much wider history.