America (part of a set) 1763 - 1767

This is “America,” a porcelain figure made at the Nymphenburg Manufactory, which was established in Germany in 1747. Porcelain is made by firing kaolin clay at extremely high temperatures, and the Nymphenburg factory was known for its high-quality wares. The figure, likely made in a mold, shows an enslaved man, possibly an allusion to labor practices in the Americas. He reclines on a symbolic column amidst foliage and an alligator. The smooth, shiny surface of the porcelain lends a sense of refinement to a troubling subject. Skilled artisans would have been responsible for the careful painting and glazing. Consider the complicated process of producing this figure, from the mining of raw materials to the factory labor required for its production. The act of transforming humble clay into a luxury item, and the way in which this object reflects the historical context of colonialism, reminds us that even the most beautiful objects can be entangled with complex social issues.