Box in the form of a lemon 1745 - 1760

Editor: So, here we have "Box in the form of a lemon" made by Meissen Manufactory around 1745-1760. It's a small ceramic sculpture, or perhaps more accurately a porcelain box, residing at The Met. It's incredibly charming! The dedication to detail on something so whimsical is what really strikes me. What story can we tell with it? Curator: This piece really speaks to the Rococo era's embrace of playful art intended for the aristocracy. This wasn't about grand statements, but rather intimate luxury and sophisticated wit. Consider the role of porcelain at the time: it was an incredibly valuable commodity, almost like owning a piece of technology today. It advertised a level of global reach and affluence. Editor: That's fascinating. So, this wasn't just a pretty object, but a symbol of something larger? Who was displaying items such as this? Curator: Precisely. These luxury items decorated the homes of nobility and signaled refinement. This box form is also important - what's inside? Often, they contained expensive and indulgent ingredients, like perfumed sugar or candied fruit that made the box precious in and of itself. Consider it an early version of conspicuous consumption. Who are its contemporaries and imitators? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way! This puts an interesting lens on the entire piece, especially how it played into social performance and status. What were the values driving porcelain consumption at this time? Curator: Status anxiety in Europe meant an increased appetite for products mirroring Eastern exports. But beyond the historical moment and the craftsmanship itself, think about how a simple lemon becomes enmeshed in trade routes, colonial power dynamics and aesthetic aspirations. The question is: How are these tensions mirrored or addressed in current sculptural practice? Editor: Wow, you've really given me a lot to think about. I never would've considered a little lemon box to have so many layers. Thanks for opening my eyes! Curator: Of course! Analyzing something seemingly simple through history unveils the interconnected systems of consumption, aesthetics, and status. It is an everyday object carrying social weight, a slice of lemon in porcelain history.