Coffeepot 1765 - 1775

This coffeepot was made by the Volkstedt Porcelain Manufactory in Germany, sometime after 1760, using a combination of molded porcelain, hand-painting, and gilding. The pearly white body of the pot, so smooth to the touch, was achieved through careful mixing and firing of clay, kaolin, and feldspar. This required immense skill and precision. Note the landscape scene painted in a delicate rose color - a romantic vista of figures, animals, and buildings. This elaborate decoration was painted by hand, stroke by stroke. Finally, the gilding that accentuates the handle, spout, and lid adds a final touch of luxury. Think about the many hands involved in creating such an object: the miners who extracted the raw materials, the artisans who mixed and molded the porcelain, the painters who decorated its surface, and the gilders who added the final flourishes. This coffeepot is a testament to the division of labor and the complex social relations that underpinned the porcelain industry. Appreciating the material and the making helps us to see beyond the object itself.