Small tureen and stand 1730 - 1735

This porcelain tureen and stand were crafted in Vienna, showcasing the fascination with exoticism that swept through Europe. Observe the seated figure atop the lid, adorned in what Europeans imagined to be “Oriental” garb. This figure echoes a long lineage of representing the "exotic Other," a motif that stretches back to antiquity with depictions of Persians and other Eastern peoples in Greek art. Such imagery served not only to depict, but also to define, casting the East as mysterious, opulent, and fundamentally different. Even today, these romanticized and often inaccurate portrayals persist, revealing the enduring power of cultural stereotypes deeply embedded in our collective memory. This tureen becomes a symbol of our ongoing negotiation with cultural identity and representation, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history.