Sugar bowl 18th - 19th century

This sugar bowl was made at the Meissen Manufactory, known as the first European producer of true porcelain. Porcelain is a high-fired ceramic, known for its delicacy, translucence, and ringing tone. It begins with a refined white clay called kaolin, mixed with other minerals. This is then shaped - perhaps on a wheel, or in a mold as we see here - and fired at extremely high temperature, resulting in a dense, glass-like material. The decoration is also crucial. Overglaze enamels create vibrant, durable surfaces. The decoration is freely painted, yet also standardized in workshops. The story of porcelain is intertwined with global trade. Europeans craved it, but long struggled to replicate it, before the Meissen factory cracked the code. At first, porcelain production was an alchemical process, a tightly guarded secret. But ultimately, it was the division of labor that allowed this factory to flourish, enabling the production of luxury goods for a growing consumer culture. So, in considering this object, remember that its beauty belies a complex history of technology, labor and commerce.