Pair of lovers 1781 - 1785

This delicate porcelain sculpture of lovers was crafted at the Le Nove Porcelain Manufactory in Italy. Porcelain, also known as “white gold,” was a highly prized material due to the complex firing processes required. The figures' elegant clothing and refined features show the incredible skill of the modelers and mold-makers. The factory system allowed for specialisation, and it’s likely that different workers would have focused on different aspects of the piece. Notice how the soft, milky glaze pools in the folds of the garments, accentuating the tactile qualities of the material. Producing porcelain was labor-intensive. Raw materials had to be sourced, the paste carefully mixed, and the kiln meticulously controlled. Porcelain factories like Le Nove were a nexus of craft, industry, and artistry. Appreciating this sculpture is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about understanding the complex human processes that brought it into being.