Meissen Porcelain Factory (German, founded 1710). <em>Chocolate Pot with Cover (Part of Chocolate Service Set)</em>, ca.1750. Ceramic, underglaze, glaze, and gold enamel, 8 x 4 in. (20.3 x 10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ernest T. Weir, 67.227.6a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 67.227.6-.13_PS22.jpg)

Meissen Porcelain Factory (German, founded 1710). Chocolate Pot with Cover (Part of Chocolate Service Set), ca.1750. Ceramic, underglaze, glaze, and gold enamel, 8 x 4 in. (20.3 x 10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ernest T. Weir, 67.227.6a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 67.227.6-.13_PS22.jpg)

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How do you know that this was for chocolate and not coffee?

Chocolate pots have a hole in the lid to accommodate a molinet (stirring rod) used to froth a thick mixture of cocoa butter, sugar, spices and cream. When Meissen first made porcelain in 1709, they loved showing off the pure white ceramic body that they had successfully made. By 1750, other factories were making porcelain and Meissen used other methods to set their products apart - such as the bold use of gilding seen here!

And what does the date "1710 - present" mean?

Those are the dates in which the Meissen porcelain manufactory has been in business. The “present” indicates that the factory that produced this Chocolate Pot and Cup and Saucer is still in operation today!

My 7 year old would like to know, "why is this gold?" Thanks!

This chocolate pot and cup are covered in gold for exactly the reason you noticed them, so that they stand out! The company that made them, Meissen, wanted them to look different from all the blue and white products out there! Blue and white porcelain was really popular in Europe and the United States at this time. Companies in Asia and Europe were all producing similar products so the gold was something different! It also indicated the status of the owner.

Wow! Thank you!

Is the chocolate pot and cup and saucer used for drinking hot chocolate?

Yes it is! Chocolate was once only known as a drink. It was popular throughout the Western world once the Spanish made contact with the Americas and started to import it into Europe.

Why is it called a chocolate pot?

That is actually the cup that one would drink the chocolate from! If you look at the top of the pot, you will see a little knob in the lid. This is attached to a stirring stick that would be used to froth up the mixture of chocolate, cream and sugar! Hot chocolate was a luxury product in the 18th century, as it was imported from Central America. It was typically drunk by women in the home, while they were getting ready for the day!

This chocolate pot and cup are beautiful. Beautiful! I want to drink from them.

Yes, that is a glorious chocolate pot! Notice how it is entirely covered in gilding? Not one bit of the white porcelain is visible!

When Meissen first discovered the recipe for pure white porcelain in 1709 they were very proud and would never have concealed the white clay in this way!

But a few decades later, other factories had learned the secret and they were fine with gilding the entire surface of vessels.

Interesting how what is considered to be important or worthy of bragging about changes over time.

Yes, it often comes down to what is the most expensive at any given moment!

We were wondering why this piece uses mostly gold and only a little blue

You'll notice that in most of the ceramic pieces in Infinite blue, the blue color is used to emphasize design elements while another color acts as the background, like the white in blue-and-white porcelain for example.

That seems to be the case here as well with blue being used to apply decorative motifs and bands to the otherwise gold colored vessel and cup.

These are so beautiful!

These gilded pieces were produced by the Meissen Porcelain Factory in Germany. Meissen was the first European factory to work with "hard-paste" porcelain, most similar to Asian porcelain.

The pitcher and cup are part of a set meant for chocolate drinking. Drinking chocolate exploded in popularity in Europe following the Spanish conquest in South and Central America. Chocolate had likely been consumed there since 1500 BCE.

Chocolate Pot with Cover (Part of Chocolate Service Set)

Decorative Arts and Design

MAKER Meissen Porcelain Factory, German, founded 1710

MEDIUM Ceramic, underglaze, glaze, and gold enamel

DATES ca.1750

DIMENSIONS 8 x 4 in. (20.3 x 10.2 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS on underside, in underglaze blue: cossed swords.

SIGNATURE no signature

INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 67.227.6a-b

CREDIT LINE Gift of Mrs. Ernest T. Weir

EXHIBITIONS

Infinite Blue

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Meissen Porcelain Factory (German, founded 1710). Chocolate Pot with Cover (Part of Chocolate Service Set), ca.1750. Ceramic, underglaze, glaze, and gold enamel, 8 x 4 in. (20.3 x 10.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ernest T. Weir, 67.227.6a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 67.227.6-.13_PS22.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 67.227.6-.13_PS22.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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