Stand 1767 - 1779

This stand was created by the Meissen Manufactory, established in 1710, and is currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Meissen porcelain emerged in the early 18th century, amidst Europe's fascination with Asian ceramics. It quickly became a symbol of wealth and status. This stand, with its delicate painting of a European estate, embodies the aspirations of the aristocratic class. It is important to consider porcelain production's reliance on global trade networks, where the materials and the techniques were imported. The labor was often a product of exploitation. Moreover, the idealized landscapes painted on these stands served to reinforce the power and privilege of the elite, while the laboring classes remained unseen. The Stand prompts us to reflect on the complex interplay between art, commerce, and social identity in the 18th century.