Monkeys within vase 1750 - 1760

This is a porcelain scent bottle, "Monkeys within vase," made by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory between 1744 and 1784. The curvaceous shape of the bottle is immediately striking. With its delicate, almost whimsical form, the vase is adorned with polychrome flowers. But it's the figures of the monkeys that truly capture the eye. Emerging from the vase, they disrupt the conventional idea of what a vessel should be. The monkeys are rendered in a style that borders on caricature. Their faces are expressive, with human-like qualities that invite a semiotic reading. The use of animals, particularly monkeys, in such a refined object subtly destabilizes the hierarchical order of the time, blurring the lines between nature and culture, high art and low humor. The gold detailing adds a layer of opulence and sophistication, typical of Chelsea porcelain, yet it is juxtaposed with the playful, almost subversive, monkey figures. The contrast between the refined material and the cheeky figures creates a dynamic tension.