Cup with insects, flower sprays and grapevines c. 1797 - 1798

This porcelain cup is decorated with insects, flower sprays and grapevines, and was made by Rue Thiroux Parijs. Without a date, it's hard to place the cup within a specific social context, but we can still consider how porcelain cups like these functioned within society. Porcelain production was a highly specialized craft, often associated with royal patronage and state-sponsored manufactories. The delicate and precious nature of porcelain made it a luxury item, and so owning and displaying porcelain became a way for elites to demonstrate their wealth, taste, and social standing. The cup's decoration with natural motifs reflects a broader interest in the natural world, and collecting specimens became a popular pastime for the wealthy. Understanding this cup fully requires delving into historical records, exploring the social history of porcelain production, and analyzing the networks of patronage and consumption that sustained it.