Ollio pot with cover and stand 1720 - 1730

This Ollio pot with cover and stand, was made by the Vienna manufactory. It’s part of a much wider story of cultural exchange in the 18th century. The pot and stand demonstrate the fashion for “chinoiserie” in Europe, in which Chinese motifs and designs were re-imagined. Here, the scenes are rendered in brown enamel over a white glaze. But the figures are European, not Chinese, and are dressed in costumes for a masquerade. The style evokes Chinese art, but it has been filtered through a European lens. This object speaks to the social and economic conditions of the time. European manufacturers were eager to capitalize on the demand for exotic goods from the East. This fashion was driven by increased trade and colonialism. The historian can analyze the trade routes, the social rituals around tea and dining, and the collecting habits of the wealthy to better understand this object. In doing so, we can see the complex interplay of cultures that produced such unique and fascinating artworks.