Chocoladekop met deksel, op een schotel versierd met een monogram van bloemetjes in een cirkel met een strik 1777 - 1790

Curator: This delightful object is a chocolate cup with a lid, accompanied by a saucer, crafted between 1777 and 1790 by the Porseleinfabriek Den Haag, here on display at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Isn't it darling? The little floral decorations scattered around...it gives me a whimsical, Marie Antoinette sort of vibe. But constrained. Not nearly exuberant enough for her! Curator: Rococo, though often associated with excess, also involved a carefully curated aesthetic for the upper middle class as porcelain manufactories broadened access to fashionable tastes. Notice the monogram of little flowers within the circle and bow. This sort of detailed, personalized touch offered access to status previously unavailable to a larger portion of society. Editor: Personalized indeed. Imagine commissioning this back then – like today's customized coffee mugs, but with a whole lot more pedigree and an aristocratic sheen. But did you say chocolate? Why a covered cup specifically for that? Curator: Chocolate was a luxury item back then. Served hot, it required a specialized vessel to keep the contents warm, also lending an air of elegance to the act of drinking. Think of it as the status symbol of the era. Chocolate consumption, especially amongst the elites, reinforced social hierarchies. Editor: So, it’s more than just a pretty thing; it’s a signal of wealth, access and aspiration. I guess objects, even the seemingly dainty ones, are always wrapped up in some story about who we want to be. Still, there's a constrained, almost shy quality to it compared to other decorative art of the time... less ostentatious. Curator: Precisely. This particular cup speaks to a transitional moment – a democratization of luxury happening. It offers a snapshot into the shifting social landscape of the late 18th century as aspirational consumerism started reshaping societies and the art world as well. Editor: You know, looking at it now, I can feel the stirrings of something beyond pure ostentation, more about a personal identity perhaps. A silent assertion through this charming, flowery little chocolate cup! Curator: A compelling observation and an enduring question. Every encounter we have with an artifact like this yields a fresh story to ponder.