Candelabra with Meissen bird (one of a pair) 1745 - 1755

This candelabra with Meissen bird, one of a pair, was made in Germany at the Meissen Manufactory sometime after 1710, out of a combination of porcelain and gilded bronze. This object exists at the intersection of nature, manufacture, and aristocratic culture. It represents the kind of luxury good that was popular amongst the European elite during this period, where porcelain, flowers, and birds came to symbolize wealth, refinement, and global trade. European aristocrats were fascinated by exotic flora and fauna from around the world, and the Meissen factory was one of the first to capitalize on this trend, creating porcelain versions of these prized possessions. Consider how this piece reflects the social structures of its time; the elaborate design, precious materials, and the skilled labor required to produce it speak to the vast economic inequalities of the 18th century. To understand this object, one would need to research the Meissen Manufactory, the history of porcelain production, and the social and economic context in which such luxury goods were produced and consumed.