Bowl
ca. 1760–70
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
3 1/4 × 6 3/8 in. (8.3 × 16.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
German, Meissen
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The George B. McClellan Collection, Gift of Mrs. George B. McClellan, 1941
Accession Number
42.205.142
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This elegant bowl, crafted by the renowned Meissen Manufactory around 1760–70, exemplifies the pinnacle of18th-century European porcelain. Produced in hard-paste porcelain—a durable, translucent material that Meissen pioneered in Europe starting in 1710—the measures a delicate 3¼ × 6⅜ inches, perfect for serving sweets or as a table centerpiece in aristocratic homes. Meissen's innovations allowed European makers to rival the finest Chinese export wares, transforming porcelain from an exotic import into a symbol of national pride and technical mastery. During the Rococo era, Meissen pieces like this were prized for their refined forms and potential for intricate decoration, though this bowl highlights the manufactory's skill in shaping pure, gleaming porcelain. As part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection—gifted through The George B. McClellan Collection in 1941—it reflects Germany's leadership in ceramics, blending functionality with luxury. Visitors will appreciate how such objects brought everyday elegance to grand dining tables, a testament to the era's opulent tastes.
About the Artist
Meissen Manufactory · 1710–present
The Meissen Manufactory, established on June 6, 1710, by Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, marked the dawn of true hard-paste porcelain production in Europe. Nestled at Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen near Dresden, the Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Porcelain Manufactory arose from alchemical experiments begun in 1708 by physicist Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus and p...