Tankard 1737 - 1744

This porcelain tankard was made by the Meissen Manufactory, likely in the first half of the 18th century. The decoration speaks to the phenomenon we now call "chinoiserie," the vogue in Europe for fanciful imitations of Chinese design. Here, two figures in vaguely East Asian dress stroll beneath a parasol against a backdrop of stylized foliage. These motifs reflect the growing fascination with the East, fueled by increasing trade and diplomatic exchange. Meissen, as one of the first European producers of porcelain, capitalized on this trend, creating objects that catered to aristocratic tastes for the exotic. But we should also consider this tankard within the history of European craft. It speaks to the ambition of European manufacturers to replicate and eventually surpass the quality of Asian porcelain. To understand the tankard, we can research trade routes, the history of the Meissen factory, and period writings about Asian art. This object reveals a world of cultural exchange.