Teapot (part of a service) 1735 - 1745

This elegant teapot was made by the Meissen Manufactory, the first European producer of hard-paste porcelain. This material, so prized for its whiteness and delicacy, is created by firing a mixture of kaolin clay and petuntse stone at extremely high temperatures. Look closely, and you’ll see that the handle and spout are separately molded and applied, while the body of the pot is formed on a potter’s wheel. The painted scenes are added after the first firing, and then sealed with a final layer of glaze. The gilding is applied last of all. While porcelain seems refined, it's important to remember the intensive labor required for its production, from mining the raw materials to the artistry of the painting. Objects like these, made for elite consumers, were only possible through highly specialized work. Considering the social context in which this teapot was created underscores how much it represents the rise of early capitalism.