Cup 1765 - 1775

This delicate cup and saucer, standing at just over two and a half inches tall, was crafted by the Höchst Manufactory in the mid-18th century. Höchst, located near Frankfurt, was one of the first German porcelain factories, established amidst a flurry of European courts vying to produce wares that could compete with highly sought after Chinese exports. These porcelains were not simply functional objects; they were powerful signifiers of status and taste. Ownership of such pieces was largely limited to the aristocracy and the burgeoning upper-middle class, mirroring the rigid social hierarchies of the time. The floral design, rendered in grayscale, speaks to the broader Rococo interest in naturalism and elegance. It's impossible to ignore that these seemingly innocuous objects were produced within social systems deeply entwined with colonialism and class disparity, complicating our appreciation. Think about the hands that held this cup, the conversations it might have witnessed. Does it spark a sense of connection to the past, or does it serve as a reminder of historical inequalities?