Chinese Chocolate Pot With Floral Decoration (18th Century)

Chinese Imari-style chocolate pot from the Qianlong period (1735-1795) with rich floral decorations. The Qianlong period was an era of subtlety and refinement, with China primarily focusing on the European market, where Chinese porcelain became extremely popular. This chocolate carafe is a typical example of porcelain made specifically for the European market. The design of this carafe is clearly inspired by the Rococo style, as evidenced, among other things, by the graceful handle and the sumptuous floral decorations. For the floral decorations, flowers with strong symbolic meaning were mainly chosen, such as the peony (symbol of wealth, honor, and prosperity) and the chrysanthemum (happiness and health). In the 18th century, drinking hot chocolate was still the preserve of the wealthy class. Originally, chocolate was a rather bitter preparation to which masses of sugar were added to make it somewhat drinkable. The presence of cocoa butter also made it a rather oily drink. The butter floated on the surface of the drink, making the whole thing unappetizing. It wasn't until the 19th century that a way was found to separate the butter from the chocolate, which gave it its current appearance.Condition: The lid shows signs of an old restoration. Otherwise, this pot is in good condition