Tray (from a tea service) 1770

This elegant tray was made at the Sèvres manufactory in France, using a refined kaolin-based porcelain. Porcelain is a challenging material. It demands a lot of the maker. From forming the clay body, glazing, and firing, each stage requires precision and skill. The brilliant turquoise ground, delicate gilding, and meticulously painted cherubs demonstrate the exceptional artistry of Sèvres’s painters. But the true significance of this tray lies in its social context. Sèvres was a royal manufactory, catering to the tastes of the French aristocracy. This tray was part of a tea service, embodying the rituals of elite sociability and consumption. The factory employed a large workforce, divided into specialized roles. Some workers prepared materials, others formed the clay, and still others decorated the finished pieces. In this sense, even a relatively small object like this tray tells a big story about labor, class, and the economics of luxury.