Porcelain Cabinet of Carlos III: A Room Made of Glaze

The Porcelain Cabinet compresses craft and spectacle: ceramic panels molded like stucco, glazed whites against royal blues, and a room that sparkles under angled light.

Contents

• Craft and Engineering
• Iconography in Porcelain
• Photographing Glaze

Craft and Engineering

• Molded ceramic mimics sculpted relief at lower weight.
• Glaze chemistry controls reflection, hue, and depth.
• Mounting systems keep panels aligned and ventilated to avoid stress.

Iconography in Porcelain

• Floral sprays, birds, and shells recur as Rococo signatures.
• Borders articulate fields like frames in a picture gallery.
• Repetition stabilizes the eye so detail can dazzle.

Photographing Glaze

• Avoid direct flash; use diffuse or indirect light.
• Shoot at slight angles to reduce specular highlights.
• Capture tight crops of recurring motifs for a study set.

The room is a lesson in material mimicry and controlled shine.