Teabowl and saucer

Art Historical Context

This elegant teabowl and sa, crafted around 1720–30 at the Vienna porcelain factory during the Claudius Innocentius du Paquier period, exemplifies Austrian hard-paste porcelain technical marvel rivaling China's coveted "white gold." Founded in 1718 by Du Pa, this manufactory was among Europe's pioneers in producing true hard-paste porcelain outside Saxony's Meissen works, using kaolin and other secrets smuggled from Asia. The petite teabowl (1 1/2 inches high) and saucer (4 1/2 inches across) reflect the opulent Baroque era's love for refined tablewares, as tea drinking swept European high society. The decoration draws from prints by Flemish artist Jan van der Straet (called Stradanus), engraved by Cornelis Galle I, and likely painted by Ignaz Preissler. Playful motifs of bears clad in armor—evident in the tags—add whimsy, transforming domestic objects into storytelling delights. These hand-applied overglaze enamels in vibrant hues showcase the factory's skill in intricate, narrative scenes inspired by hunting or allegorical prints popular at the Habsburg court. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department, this pair (gift of R. Thornton Wilson, 1950) highlights Vienna porcelain's brief but brilliant golden age, blending technical innovation with artistic flair before merging with imperial production in 1744. A charming window into 18th-century luxury!

About the Artist

Ignaz Preissler|Cornelis Galle I|Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus|Vienna|Claudius Innocentius Du Paquier period · 1676–1741

German, Friedrichswald 1676–1741Kronsstadt