Teapot (part of a service) 1765 - 1775

This teapot was made by the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory, though we don’t know exactly when. It’s part of a larger tea service. Porcelain is a unique material. It is made by firing refined white clay at high temperatures. The resulting object is extremely hard, but also brittle. The decoration has been applied by hand, requiring immense skill. Notice the fine brushstrokes in the depiction of the birds and foliage. The spout is shaped like a dragon head, another detail that speaks to the care put into the making. Ceramics like this were central to the rise of capitalism, with the exploitation of kaolin deposits, the division of labor in factories, and the global trade in tea all contributing to the expansion of European economies. The amount of handwork involved elevated porcelain into a luxury good, eagerly consumed by the elite. Appreciating its making and historical context allows us to understand this teapot as more than just a pretty object.