Square-Sectioned Bottle c. 1725

This square-sectioned bottle was produced by the Du Paquier Porcelain Manufactory in Vienna, Austria, around the 1720s. It embodies the fascination with Asian aesthetics that swept through Europe during the 18th century. The bottle’s decoration, featuring stylized birds and flowering branches, draws heavily from Chinese porcelain. Yet, the addition of the gilded, baroque-style lid is a distinctly European touch. These hybrid objects reveal the complex dynamics of cultural exchange and artistic appropriation that defined the period. The Du Paquier Manufactory, the second-oldest porcelain factory in Europe, was founded with the explicit goal of replicating the prized porcelain wares of China and Japan. This endeavor reflects not only a desire for luxury goods but also the economic and political ambitions of European powers vying for global influence through trade and artistic innovation. Understanding this bottle requires delving into the history of trade routes, the rise of porcelain manufacturing, and the social rituals surrounding luxury goods. Museum archives and auction catalogs provide a wealth of information to contextualize the artwork.