Pair of small vases 1770 - 1780

These small vases were crafted from porcelain at the Doccia Porcelain Manufactory in Italy, sometime between 1737 and 1896. The vases present a fascinating insight into the cultural milieu of their time. Note how the floral decorations and delicate, classical forms reflect the Rococo style, popular among the European elite. The addition of small faces as handles adds an anthropomorphic element, hinting at the period's fascination with classicism, and perhaps even the Enlightenment interest in the human form. Doccia, established by Marchese Carlo Ginori, was particularly interesting from an institutional point of view. It aimed to emulate and compete with the famous Meissen porcelain, reflecting the period's mercantilist competition and aristocratic patronage. Investigating Ginori's social connections and the factory’s business records might reveal more about the market these vases were intended for, and the social aspirations they embodied.