Coppersmith c. 1750

Curator: This porcelain figure, titled "Coppersmith," was manufactured by the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. The artisan is captured mid-action with a hammer. It's part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's something unsettling about this figure. It’s so delicate, but it depicts a man engaged in hard labor. The base also looks strangely decorative for the setting. Curator: I agree. It reflects the 18th-century fascination with portraying labor through a romanticized lens. The figure's refined attire and the ornate base contrast sharply with the realities of manual work. This was a period defined by complex social hierarchies. Editor: Absolutely. And the choice of porcelain—a material so easily broken—further underscores the vast gulf between the artisan's lived experience and the consumer's perception of it. The means of production are right in front of our eyes. Curator: The figure serves as a powerful symbol, doesn't it? Highlighting the complex power dynamics and societal perceptions of labor and class inherent within 18th-century European culture. Editor: Indeed, a material study reveals much about the conditions of its time.