Cup and saucer 1720 - 1740

This cup and saucer were created in Vienna, Austria, and now reside at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Though the date of production is unknown, their presence speaks volumes about the era's social and economic structures. The monochrome scenes, framed by delicate gilding, depict riders on horseback, a window into the lives of the elite. These images often romanticized military prowess and aristocratic privilege, even as the winds of revolution began to sweep across Europe. Consider the hands that crafted these delicate objects, the socio-economic conditions of the time, and the complex narratives that are woven into the fabric of everyday life. What stories do we tell ourselves when sipping from such a cup? How might such objects reinforce or challenge existing power structures? This cup and saucer is not merely a vessel for tea but a carrier of history, identity, and societal values.