Cranes amid seagrass 1750 - 1760

This is a porcelain scent bottle, made at the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory sometime between 1744 and 1784. Scent bottles like these gained popularity in the eighteenth century when developments in the perfume industry allowed for more complex scents than ever before. But objects like this one also speak to the social structures of the time. Perfume was primarily for the upper classes, who could afford the ingredients and the specialized craftsmanship needed to produce the scent bottles to hold them. The Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory was known for its high-quality wares, often made in imitation of Asian designs, and this piece is no exception. The naturalistic details of the cranes and seagrass, as well as the high level of artistry, speak to the culture of luxury and refinement that characterized the upper classes in England at this time. These objects provide valuable insight into the aesthetics and values of a particular social group and can be studied with the help of archival materials and other historical resources.