Saucer with a mythological image based on the element Fire c. 1740 - 1760

This saucer, likely made in Europe, features a mythological image based on the element fire, painted onto delicate porcelain. Porcelain itself is a fascinating material. Made from kaolin clay and fired at incredibly high temperatures, it vitrifies into a smooth, almost glass-like substance. The decoration is applied over the fired glaze, layer upon layer, each requiring separate firing. This painstaking process demanded skilled artisans, working within a highly structured workshop system. The scene depicted is fascinating, with its classical figures and allegorical elements. The painted decoration has a naïve, playful quality, a kind of misinterpretation of classical subject matter. The labor involved in the production of porcelain, from mining the clay to the final firing, often goes unnoticed when we focus solely on the image it carries. Considering the amount of work involved reminds us that even the most decorative objects are rooted in the realities of labor, trade, and the complex social dynamics of their time.