Toilet set containing three smaller boxes 1756 - 1766

This toilet set containing three smaller boxes was made out of porcelain by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory sometime between 1744 and 1784. It's worth considering what porcelain itself represents. Porcelain was called ‘white gold’ due to its value as a luxury commodity, and became a key element in aristocratic culture across Europe. The Chelsea Porcelain Factory, in London, was the second factory to produce soft-paste porcelain in England and was known for its elaborate, luxury items. The brand’s early patronage by George II gave it an advantage over rival businesses. These boxes are decorated with exotic birds and foliage in gold against a dark-blue ground. Motifs such as these referenced international trade and the British Empire’s global reach. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. As an art historian, I would study the archives of the Chelsea Porcelain Factory and the inventories of aristocratic households to better understand the meanings and uses of objects like these.