Tankard 1735 - 1745

This tankard was crafted at the Meissen Manufactory, a German company which was founded in 1710. Meissen porcelain became a status symbol, demonstrating the wealth and taste of its owner. Drinking vessels such as this one, commissioned for the aristocracy, reveal a lot about the social rituals and hierarchies of the 18th century. The delicate floral paintings and the presence of a butterfly are in line with the aesthetic values of the time. However, porcelain production also had a darker side. The demand for porcelain led to the exploitation of labor, as workers endured harsh conditions to meet the demands of the European market. We must consider the human cost behind such exquisite objects, and recognize the complex intersections of art, power, and labor.