Monkey 1727 - 1737

This striking porcelain monkey was made by the Meissen Manufactory in the 18th century. Porcelain at this time was like the latest tech gadget, and this manufactory was at the cutting edge. The making process would have been highly social, with division of labor, where different people would have done the modelling, the casting, the firing, and the painting. These objects were very much products of early capitalism, manufactured for a market, rather than made individually. What's interesting here is that the artists have used the inherent qualities of porcelain, its smoothness, its whiteness, its ability to be molded, to create this witty, inquisitive monkey. This wasn't just about replicating nature. Porcelain lent itself to a particular kind of stylized and refined representation. Understanding the material and the means of production helps us recognize the complex social and cultural meanings embedded in this playful sculpture. It is a testament to human skill, artistic vision, and the transformative power of making.