Cup with a portrait en profile c. 1800 - 1810

This cup with a portrait was made by the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur, or Royal Porcelain Factory. The crisp white porcelain, translucent glaze, and gilded details speak to a highly refined and labour-intensive process. Porcelain production was a closely guarded secret, and required great technical skill. Notice the perfect marriage of form and decoration, with classical motifs elegantly painted onto the surface. But consider the social context too. Porcelain was once known as 'white gold', because only the elite could afford it. It was used as a symbolic display of wealth and taste. Royal factories such as this one used the skills of many artisans to fashion luxurious items. This cup reminds us that even seemingly simple objects carry complex cultural, historical, and economic meanings.