Tureen in the form of a Rabbit
1755–56
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain and polychrome enamels
Dimensions
22.9 × 35 × 22.9 cm (9 × 13 3/4 × 9 in.)
Classification
tableware
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
71154
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
For the rich and powerful in the eighteenth century, formal dinner was theater, and it was not uncommon to serve multiple courses, each of which could consist of dishes arranged on the table. Pieces like the rabbit tureen were an important part of the theatrical set decoration. The Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory produced tureens not only in the form of rabbits but also vegetables and birds. Chelsea porcelain makers prided themselves on the realistic results of their craftsmanship, proclaiming in ...