Teapot
ca. 1740
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
3 1/2 × 5 3/4 in. (8.9 × 14.6 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
42.205.130a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant teapot from the Meissenufactory, dating to around 1740, exemplifies pinnacle of early European porcelain production. Meissen, established in 1710 near Dresden, Germany, was the first factory to successfully replicate Chinese hard-paste porcelain—a translucent, durable material fired at high temperatures that allowed for intricate modeling and vibrant decoration. Adorned with delicate motifs animals and flowers, this vessel (just 3½ × 5¾ inches) reflects the Rococo taste for playful naturalism and opulence during the 18th century. The teapot's significance lies in its role as a lu...
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...