Chocolate pot (part of a set) 1735 - 1755

This is a porcelain chocolate pot, part of a set, made by the Meissen Manufactory in Germany. The pot’s cultural context lies in the rise of chocolate as a luxury commodity in Europe. Chocolate drinking became a fashionable and social ritual among the elite. Porcelain, itself an expensive import or a closely guarded manufacturing secret, further elevated the status of this indulgence. Meissen, as one of the earliest European producers of porcelain, catered to this market, linking their wares to wealth and exclusivity. The floral decoration, delicate handle, and overall form speak to a culture of refined taste, courtly ritual, and conspicuous consumption. Examining invoices, workshop records, and the personal accounts of the aristocracy helps to further illuminate the role of objects like these in shaping social hierarchies. The history of this chocolate pot thus reveals not just the story of a beautiful object, but also the complex social and economic forces that shaped its creation and use.