Allegorical Figure of Asia 1770 - 1780

The Derby Porcelain Manufactory produced this "Allegorical Figure of Asia" sometime between 1751 and 1785. It is a complex object, emblematic of Europe’s colonial gaze cast towards the East. At first glance, the figure appears benign, almost dainty. But consider the context: European manufacturers frequently used porcelain to represent the continents, often as allegorical figures. Here, Asia is depicted as a young, fair-skinned woman adorned with flowers and accompanied by a docile camel. This romanticized vision is a far cry from the diverse realities of the Asian continent. The porcelain suggests a narrative of European refinement and power, reducing Asia to an exoticized, submissive figure. The material itself, porcelain, became a valuable commodity due to colonial trade routes, embodying the power dynamics between Europe and the regions it sought to represent. What you see is a story about how the West perceives the East, one shaped by desire, dominance, and a profound misunderstanding.