Bottles (3) 1715 - 1735

These three bottles were made at the Meissen Manufactory, a leader in European porcelain production. Porcelain is a unique material, made from a blend of kaolin clay and petuntse, a feldspar mineral. These are fired at extremely high temperatures, resulting in a translucent, non-porous, and resonant material. The decoration on these bottles is achieved through layers of enamel paints, applied by highly skilled artisans. The elaborate gilding, in particular, required precision and expertise. The scenes depicted on the bottles are known as "chinoiseries," European fantasies of the far East; they reflect the global trade networks that made porcelain itself such a desirable commodity. Consider the social context in which these bottles were produced. Meissen was established under royal patronage, aiming to replicate the hard-paste porcelain that was then exclusively made in China. The elaborate production processes involved division of labor, with different specialists responsible for forming, firing, painting, and gilding. These bottles therefore embody both high artistic achievement and complex systems of labor and commerce.