Teapot 1740 - 1750

This porcelain teapot, shaped like a hen protecting her chicks, was made in the Meissen Manufactory, which was established in Germany in 1710. This charming teapot exists in a world marked by rigid social hierarchies and the rise of the European porcelain industry, fueled by colonial exploitation and trade. Porcelain teapots like this one, would have been status symbols, adorning the tables of the elite. The hen and chicks could speak to an idealized vision of motherhood, but also to the subjugation of women in a patriarchal society. The delicate craftsmanship belies a complex web of power relations. Consider how an object like this, intended for intimate domestic use, reflects broader societal values and the intricate dynamics of gender, class, and cultural exchange.