Cup and saucer 1770 - 1780

This cup and saucer were made of porcelain at the Ilmenau Porcelain Manufactory in Germany. At a time when tea and coffee drinking was becoming more common, porcelain manufactories like the one in Ilmenau supplied a market eager for the trappings of polite society. The pink floral design, typical of the period, speaks to an appreciation for the natural world, even as the cup itself represents a certain degree of luxury and refinement. The town of Ilmenau, where this cup and saucer was made, was known for its porcelain production. The manufactory was supported by local nobles eager to cash in on the growing demand. Understanding an object like this requires attention to the culture that produced it. Scholarly sources, museum archives, and historical studies of industry and commerce can all shed light on the social meanings embedded in the design of the cup and saucer.