Bottle with stopper 1885

This striking bottle and stopper was produced by Crown Derby, a company that has been active since the mid-18th century. It is made of porcelain, a material developed through intense experimentation, combining different clays and firing processes at a very high temperature. The bottle has a complex appearance due to the many stages of its manufacture. First, it would have been cast in a mold, then fired. Next, the distinctive cobalt blue glaze would have been applied, followed by the elaborate gilded decoration. This would have required a team of skilled artisans, each with their own specialist knowledge. The use of gold is especially interesting. It speaks to a culture of luxury and display, and of course, to the economic context of the factory system, which facilitated this kind of elaborate production. Ultimately, understanding this bottle means appreciating porcelain as a material and understanding the labor involved in its making.