Cup and saucer 1717 - 1720

This cup and saucer, created by the Meissen Manufactory between 1717 and 1720, exemplifies the early porcelain production of the famed German factory. The delicate, white porcelain is adorned with a band of gold-gilded scrollwork, framed by a soft pink glaze. The cup's elegant, bell-shaped form and the saucer's simple design reflect the emerging Rococo style, while the Meissen factory's distinctive "onion pattern" evokes the influence of East Asian ceramics. This cup and saucer, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, embodies the Meissen factory's pursuit of technical mastery and artistic innovation during the early 18th century.