Coffee cup and saucer

Coffee cup and saucer by Höchst Manufactory

Medium

Hard-paste porcelain

Dimensions

Diameter, saucer: 5 1/8 in. (13 cm) Overall, cup: 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (6.4 x 8.9 cm)

Classification

Ceramics-Porcelain

Culture

German, Höchst

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Mercedes Bass, 2007

Accession Number

2007.243.7a, b

Tags

BirdsDucks

Art Historical Context

This delicate coffee cup and saucer crafted by the renowned Höchst Manufactory 1775, exemplifies pinnacle of 18th-century German porcelain. Produced in Höchst, near Frankfurt, the manufactory was a key player in Europe's quest to rival Chinese porcelain, mastering hard-paste porcelain—a durable, translucent material fired at high temperatures that allowed for intricate shapes and vibrant decorations. Measuring a dainty 5 1/8 inches in saucer diameter and 21/2 x 3 1/2 inches for the cup, this set was designed for intimate coffee rituals, a fashionable social pastime among Europe's elite. The p...

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