Teabowl and saucer 1718 - 1728

This delicate teabowl and saucer were crafted at the Meissen Manufactory, likely in the 18th century, during a period when Europe was captivated by the exotic allure of the East. The scenes painted on the porcelain present a European fantasy of Asian life. This imagery catered to the tastes of the aristocracy, who used these pieces as status symbols, displaying their wealth and worldliness. The artist has created an imagined version of an elite Chinese household. The figures are depicted in a manner that blends European rococo aesthetics with stereotypical depictions of Asian people. Consider the emotional dimension of these objects. They speak to a complex history of trade, cultural exchange, and the projection of European fantasies onto distant lands. This teabowl and saucer reflect the power dynamics inherent in cultural exchange and the ways in which perceptions of identity are shaped through material culture.