Cup (part of a service) 1765 - 1775

This cup was made at the Frankenthal Porcelain Manufactory, and is made of hard-paste porcelain. It is a reminder that even the most delicate objects are born of intense heat and skilled labor. Porcelain is made of kaolin clay, ground stone, and petuntse. These materials are mixed and fired at temperatures reaching 1,400 degrees Celsius. This vitrifies the material, resulting in a non-porous surface with a characteristic translucence. Then, the cup is decorated with painted birds and foliage, rendered with delicate precision. The cup would likely have been made by different artisans, each specializing in a particular aspect of the production process, from mixing the clay to painting the decoration. In its day, the production of porcelain was a complex industrial operation, bringing together specialized expertise and large-scale manufacturing. So, the next time you sip tea or coffee from a porcelain cup, consider the rich history and intricate craftsmanship that it embodies.