Cup (part of a set) 1735 - 1745

Editor: So, here we have a porcelain cup and accompanying tray, part of a set made by Meissen Manufactory between 1735 and 1745. What strikes me immediately is the playful, almost cartoonish quality of the figures in the central scene. What do you make of it? Curator: Playful is a wonderful word for it. To me, these delicate objects whisper of a time when porcelain was a luxury, practically alchemical in its allure. Imagine sipping tea from this! I see a scene unfolding—a hunt, perhaps? With someone joyriding the poor horse... and some frustrated figures! Does it spark a narrative for you? Editor: Definitely. I see this privileged figure on horseback, possibly a spoiled child, who thinks it’s fun to play rough with a lash. I also notice that this figure's got an almost purple coat! I would love to know who would drink out of these, because there is clearly some form of narrative presented on each. Who would make these, or want to? Curator: I think someone was bored and wanted a bit of light relief. Meissen was *the* porcelain manufactory in Europe, staffed with skilled artists copying Chinese and Japanese porcelain, trying to make their own mark. The "genre painting" scenes suggest aristocratic leisure, a staged pastoral. But there’s humor and absurdity creeping in. Were those making the cups laughing? Editor: That tension between luxury and playfulness is interesting. It almost feels subversive. Curator: Yes! Subversive luxury. This makes it appealing still! It suggests even in formal settings, humor, even dark humor has always been there. Editor: Absolutely, and looking at the other cups individually I find I can see even more subtle stories that may have not been evident before.