Saucer (part of a service) 1723 - 1726

This porcelain saucer was produced by the Meissen Manufactory in Germany during the 18th century. Meissen was the first European factory to successfully produce porcelain, a closely guarded secret previously known only in China. This saucer exemplifies the fashion for Chinoiserie, a European artistic style reflecting Chinese motifs. But these images of Chinese life were often based on fantasy rather than reality. This saucer, while intended to evoke the exotic East, reveals more about European desires and projections. The rise of porcelain production at Meissen was closely linked to aristocratic power and courtly patronage. Augustus the Strong, the Elector of Saxony, established the manufactory, seeing it as a source of prestige and revenue. So studying an artwork like this gives us insights into the economic and political ambitions of European rulers.