Tea Bowl, Coffee Cup, and Saucer c. 1760

Editor: So, this is "Tea Bowl, Coffee Cup, and Saucer," made around 1760 by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company, currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. The material is porcelain. I'm struck by the delicacy of these objects, and the almost dreamlike quality of the purple scenes. What catches your eye? Curator: You know, it’s funny – I'm immediately transported to a sort of imagined Orient. That monochrome decoration, almost like a faded photograph, evokes a past seen through rose-tinted glasses. What seems to be the prevailing artistic wind to your eye: Rococo or chinoiserie? Editor: Good question. The Rococo detailing on the rims is clear but the scenes on the inside are a nod to the East; I suppose, both? Does this type of "Orientalism" say anything about Europe at that time? Curator: Absolutely! The whole piece, like a whispered secret, hints at the burgeoning global trade and cultural fascination. These scenes, idyllic and slightly fantastical, aren’t so much about reality as about European perceptions, projections, and – perhaps – even fantasies. You could even imagine someone sipping their tea and dreaming of exotic lands they'd likely never visit! What is your favorite piece out of the ensemble of three? Editor: It’s really about how they complement each other, yet I'm drawn to the cup, simply because of the detailed narrative squeezed onto such a small canvas. I think seeing all of them displayed collectively allows a glimpse of eighteenth-century aspirations of worldliness! Curator: A perfect insight! So, in essence, it is less about tea, and more about reverie? Editor: Precisely! Thank you!