Bowl with cover 1730 - 1745

This bowl with cover was made by the French manufacturer Chantilly. It is made of soft-paste porcelain, a material perfected in France as an alternative to hard-paste porcelain from China, and decorated with painted enamels. The floral decoration, known as Kakiemon, imitates Japanese porcelain. Notice how the bowl's smooth surface and rounded form allow for the delicate painting of flowers and foliage. These motifs speak to the influence of global trade on European ceramics, reflecting a vogue for all things Asian. The production of soft-paste porcelain was a complex and highly skilled process, involving the precise mixing of ingredients, careful firing in a kiln, and meticulous hand-painting. In the 18th century, porcelain was a luxury item, and its manufacture was closely tied to royal patronage and courtly culture. Appreciating the skill and labor involved in its creation challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and decorative arts.