Cup and Saucer c. 1770

This porcelain cup and saucer were created by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company, a manufacturer deeply entwined with the history of British industry and trade. These pieces evoke the global exchange of goods and the complex social rituals surrounding tea consumption. The vibrant turquoise and deep burgundy stripes, accented with delicate gilt floral designs, speak to a specific kind of luxury and the consumer culture of the time. While seemingly decorative, such objects played a role in shaping social hierarchies and cultural identities. Tea drinking was often a gendered activity, reinforcing certain notions of femininity and domesticity. The ownership of fine porcelain like this signified not only wealth but also taste and refinement. Consider the hands that mined the materials, crafted the porcelain, and eventually held this cup. Their stories are embedded in this object, transforming it from a mere item of consumption into a vessel of cultural meaning and historical reflection.