Cup and saucer from Solitaire Set c. 1785

This delicate porcelain cup and saucer were produced in the mid-18th century by the Höchst Porcelain Factory in Germany. The fine materials and detailed painting of fowl are markers of luxury and courtly life. But the image also evokes a changing social landscape. The rise of porcelain manufactories such as Höchst was closely tied to mercantilism. Nascent nation-states encouraged domestic industries to reduce reliance on imports, especially from Asia. By the 1740s, porcelain was no longer just for kings, but was also collected by the rising bourgeoisie. The solitary nature of the set, named a 'Solitaire', suggests it was made for a single wealthy individual, either to be enjoyed in private, or perhaps to demonstrate their social standing. The historian considers porcelain in relation to trade, class, and evolving social rituals. Catalogues and inventories can reveal the social status of the cup's original owner and how they were viewed within a changing social and economic world.