Fork c. 18th century

This fork was manufactured at the Meissen Porcelain Factory in Germany, a place that holds a special place in the history of European ceramics. Meissen was the first to successfully replicate the formula for hard-paste porcelain outside of China, and its products were highly prized. Consider the time and place in which this fork was made. Royal patronage and mercantilist economic policies underpinned the factory's initial success. Porcelain was a luxury commodity that spoke of wealth, taste, and power. The factory’s wares were collected by elites, who displayed them in their homes to impress visitors. But let's not forget the factory itself, an institution with its own internal hierarchies and social relations. By studying archival records, such as factory inventories, letters, and design drawings, we can learn more about the lives of the workers who produced these objects and the cultural values they embodied.