Roller (one of a pair) 1735 - 1745

This sculpture of a Roller was made at the Meissen Manufactory in Germany in the eighteenth century. It's a porcelain figure, part of a pair, representing a bird perched above a nest of fledglings. The Meissen Manufactory was established in the early 18th century, the first to produce porcelain outside of China. Aristocratic patronage was critical to Meissen's success. Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, founded the manufactory, using it to produce luxury goods that would enhance his prestige. The vogue for porcelain collecting swept the European aristocracy, its whiteness and delicate form a signifier of wealth and status. The naturalism of the bird is typical of the period, when scientific observation began influencing decorative art. But the bird here also serves a symbolic function, evoking a certain kind of aristocratic power. These porcelain sculptures invite us to consider the complex social and economic networks that supported artistic production in 18th-century Europe. Careful archival research can reveal the relationships between artists, patrons, and institutions that shaped the creation and reception of these objects.