Teabowl and saucer 1710 - 1725

This teabowl and saucer, created by the Meissen Manufactory between 1710 and 1725, are a prime example of early German porcelain. The monochrome black and white palette showcases a pastoral scene with hunters on horseback and a mythological scene, likely from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The Meissen Manufactory was the first European factory to successfully produce hard-paste porcelain, and its work was greatly influenced by the decorative styles of the East. This tea set, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflects both the craftsmanship of the Meissen Manufactory and the growing popularity of tea drinking in Europe.