Milk jug with a landscape and flower sprays c. 1780

This delicate milk jug was produced by the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur, or Royal Porcelain Factory. Porcelain is a very particular material. To achieve this level of refinement, the clay is fired at extremely high temperatures, resulting in a hard, translucent material prized for its beauty. But what does that refinement mean socially? Well, a jug like this would have been made for a wealthy household and would not have been within reach for the working class, for example. The landscape and flower sprays are carefully painted, turning an everyday object into a luxury item. The gold trim adds to the opulence. Porcelain production demanded skilled labor, dividing workers into specialized roles within the factory, each contributing to the final product. Consider the amount of work involved in producing such an object, from mining the raw materials to the final decoration. Appreciating the jug's beauty involves understanding its making, which in turn provides insights into social class.