Teapot 1758 - 1772

This teapot was made at the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory, established in 1747. Porcelain is made by firing a mixture of fine clay and a glassy material called frit at extremely high temperatures. This results in a vitrified, non-porous ceramic. The teapots body was formed using a mold, allowing for consistency in shape, essential for commercial production. After the initial firing, skilled artisans hand-painted the delicate decoration you see. These depictions of nature link it to the wider social issues of consumption and trade, particularly tea, which relied on global networks of commerce, and the intense labor of enslaved people. The handle and spout, which are cast separately, evidence the high degree of skill required to create an item that is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing. The immense skill and labor invested in this seemingly simple object challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.