Teacup and Saucer c. 1770

This teacup and saucer were made at the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company, using refined clay, formed, fired, and then painted. The delicacy of porcelain belies the industrial processes required for its creation. Notice the fine potting and hand-painted Chinoiserie decoration – a fashionable European interpretation of Chinese design. The scenes, painted with meticulous detail, evoke a romanticized East, made possible by global trade routes. These objects hint at the complex social dynamics of their time. They were luxury goods, meant for the consumption of the British upper classes, and relied on the labor of factory workers. The decoration itself draws on the skills of artists working within a specific aesthetic tradition. By understanding the materials, the making process, and the cultural context, we can appreciate how these objects transcend the divide between craft, design, and art, reflecting the complex interplay of labor, trade, and taste in the 18th century.