Broth bowl with cover and stand (écuelle ronde et plateau rond) 1747 - 1758

Editor: So, this is a porcelain broth bowl with a cover and stand, made at the Vincennes Manufactory between 1747 and 1758. I’m immediately struck by how meticulously painted it is, with all the little birds and plants. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: What intrigues me is how a common item, used for consuming broth, has been transformed into a luxury object through meticulous craftsmanship and material value. Porcelain production was a highly specialized labor at Vincennes, reliant on specific techniques and materials. The use of porcelain, the gold trim – it all speaks to consumption and wealth. Editor: So it's less about the birds themselves, and more about how this bowl represents… luxury? Curator: Precisely! The painted decorations and molded details also obscure and romanticize the labor required to produce this object. Think about the extraction of raw materials, the specific skills involved in porcelain production and painting, the supply chains that enabled this piece. How does this elaborate decoration reinforce social hierarchies? Editor: That makes sense. It’s not just a pretty bowl; it's about the entire economic and social structure that allows such an object to exist. Are the birds significant to this understanding? Curator: Yes, consider them within that structure. They’re part of the overall effect. Depictions of nature contributed to its value and its place within elite social practices of consumption. Editor: So, looking at the materials and the artistry makes it clear that it’s not just a functional item, but a marker of status supported by complex systems. I hadn’t considered the labour involved. Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about. Curator: Absolutely! Seeing art through the lens of its production opens up so many new perspectives.