Vase 1755 - 1765

This porcelain vase was created by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, active in the mid-18th century. In this period, porcelain was more than just a material. It signified wealth, artistry, and global trade. Consider the implications of adorning a vase with cherubic figures and vibrant flowers. It speaks to the Rococo period's love of frivolity, but there is an emotional narrative at play here too. The vase suggests themes of innocence, beauty, and perhaps a longing for an idealized pastoral life. Think about the cultural context of the 1700s. The elite's fascination with nature was often far removed from the realities of the working class's relationship with the land. How does this vase, with its delicate birds and cherubs, participate in this complex narrative? It's a beautiful object, but also a symbol of its time.