Sauceboat 18th century

This is a porcelain sauceboat made in England by the Derby Porcelain Manufactory in the mid to late 18th century. At this time, owning fine porcelain tableware was a sign of wealth and sophistication. Porcelain factories like Derby were businesses, creating art for a market. As such, they had to cater to the tastes of the British aristocracy. This sauceboat looks like a shell sitting on other shells, which was a popular decorative motif. The ruling classes displayed their wealth through nature-inspired porcelain objects, while also consuming real seafood at dinner. To better understand the sauceboat, we can research the company that made it, the social status of its owners, and the cultural associations of the natural world in 18th century Britain. By looking at who was buying and using such things, we can start to understand the social role of this artwork and others like it.