Saucer (part of a service) 1723 - 1726

This porcelain saucer was made by the Meissen Manufactory in Germany, though the date of production isn't known. The scene painted on the plate exemplifies the taste for the "chinoiserie" that was so popular among European elites in the 18th century. The craze for Chinese arts and culture emerged within a long history of trade between Europe and China. But it also took hold as Europeans sought to understand their place in the world, and to define their culture against the traditions of other nations. The Meissen factory was established in the early 18th century, as European manufacturers sought to replicate the formula for fine porcelain that had long been a guarded secret in China. In studying this object, we might consult historical records of trade and collecting. We might also look at patterns of taste and consumption among European elites. In these ways, we come to see the art of the past as deeply enmeshed with economic, social, and institutional histories.