Perfume burner 1753 - 1795

This Perfume burner of unknown date was made in Sceaux from soft-paste porcelain. Porcelain is more than just a material, it's a technology with a fascinating social history. This particular piece, with its creamy surface and floral decoration in high relief, speaks to the intense competition among European manufacturers to replicate Chinese porcelain, which had been a luxury import for centuries. The Sceaux factory, like others in France, used a "soft-paste" formula. It was easier to produce than the "hard-paste" porcelain of China and Germany, but just as alluring. Notice the incredible amount of hand-work involved. Each flower was individually molded and applied, a labor-intensive process that drove up the cost, making this perfume burner a status symbol for the wealthy. So, next time you encounter porcelain, remember it's not just about beauty. It's about alchemical experimentation, skilled labor, and the global flow of materials and ideas.