Saucer c. 18th century

This saucer was created by the Worcester Porcelain Works, a company established in 1751 in England, a time of burgeoning global trade and empire. Its delicate porcelain body and blue floral decoration speak to the West’s fascination with, and appropriation of, Asian artistic traditions. This appropriation was driven by colonial power dynamics and the desire for exotic goods among the European elite. Yet, beyond mere imitation, consider this: what does it mean when one culture adopts and adapts the artistic expressions of another? While seemingly a simple object, this saucer embodies complex narratives of cultural exchange, power, and identity. It invites us to reflect on the colonial past and its enduring impact on our present. How might we, as viewers, engage with such objects in a way that acknowledges their complicated histories?