Toilet jar 1770 - 1785

Editor: So, this little container, entitled "Toilet Jar," made between 1770 and 1785, gives off a very austere vibe, despite the porcelain and floral design. How would you interpret a seemingly everyday object like this from a historical perspective? Curator: It's crucial to understand that something labeled a "toilet jar" in this period likely served a different purpose than what the name suggests to us today. What do you imagine it might have held? Editor: Perfumes or makeup, perhaps? It does seem delicate. Curator: Precisely. These jars often contained cosmetics, creams, or even small trinkets, all status symbols. Porcelain itself speaks to trade routes and access to global goods. It’s not merely a jar, but a signifier of social standing and personal care rituals highly controlled by aristocratic society. Note the seemingly simple floral design. Even that would have specific meaning related to the social politics of imagery at the time. Does it look hand-painted, or mass produced? Editor: Hand-painted, I think. So its artistic qualities make it valuable? Curator: Not only that, but understanding what messages this "toilet jar" carried for its original audience lets us think about how consumerism and personal identity were taking shape within the larger social landscape of the 18th century. A simple jar, really. Editor: So it is a window into the past? Curator: Exactly. What we initially saw as "simple" reflects complex social values and daily habits. I find the idea of uncovering those details endlessly rewarding.