Plate
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Diameter: 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
Austrian, Vienna
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1894
Accession Number
94.4.240
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant plate, produced by the Imperial Porcelainufactory in Vienna in1799, exemplifies the of late 18th-century Austrian craftsmanship. Crafted from hard-paste porcelain—a, translucent material pioneered in Europe that rivaled Chinese imports—the 8½-inch diameter dish was designed for aristocratic dining or display. Vienna's imperial factory, under Habsburg patronage, was renowned for its technical precision and lavish decorations, often blending Neoclassical motifs with playful sensuality. The plate's central scene features graceful female nudes, a bold motif reflecting the era's fasci...
About the Artist
Imperial Porcelain Manufactory ( ) · 1744 –1864
Vienna, 1744–1864