Design for a Porcelain Cup 19th century

This design for a porcelain cup, made with graphite and watercolor, presents a vision of opulence. Note the cup’s elaborate ornamentation: cherubic figures, garlands of flowers, ribbons, and even a pair of swans supporting the base. All of these details would have required immense skill to execute in porcelain, which is notoriously difficult to work. The design also includes multiple firings in the kiln to achieve the desired colors and effects. We can imagine the many hands that would be involved in the entire process, from the initial design to the final product, from the mining of the raw materials to the painting of the details, reflecting the division of labor characteristic of industrial manufacture. Ultimately, understanding this drawing demands attention to the material qualities of porcelain, the many processes of its creation, and its social context, which blurs the boundaries between fine art and craft.