Bowl with cover and stand 1730 - 1735

This is a porcelain bowl with a cover and stand, created by the Meissen Manufactory in the 18th century. During this time, European porcelain was deeply influenced by East Asian aesthetics. Notice the intricate scenes and motifs rendered in the style of traditional Chinese art. The bowl embodies the complexities of cultural exchange and colonial trade routes. What appears as a simple decorative object reveals a history of appropriation and unequal power dynamics. Porcelain like this was highly prized and signaled wealth. Its presence in aristocratic households spoke volumes about status and taste. Consider how the labor and resources required to produce this bowl are tied to global histories of exploitation. The elegant surface belies the human cost embedded in its creation, the emotional investment of those near and far.