Man and woman with sleigh 1760 - 1770

This porcelain sculpture of a couple riding a sleigh was made by the Ansbach Pottery and Porcelain Manufactory in Germany. Figures such as these were popular as decorations in aristocratic homes of the 18th century. We might see it as pure spectacle, but the image invites us to consider the lives of the elite during this period and what they valued. The sculpture might seem like a harmless scene of leisure. But the man's military attire hints at the importance of military power and the importance of aristocratic privilege. A museum label might simply identify the materials and origin, but, as art historians, we can explore the complex social and cultural context in which it was made. Through research into court life, military history, and the history of decorative arts, we can gain a far richer understanding of its meaning and social function.