Dish 1810 - 1835

This dish was made by the Derby Porcelain Manufactory sometime between 1751 and 1785. It reflects the 18th-century fashion for Chinese design, known as Chinoiserie. The visual vocabulary is a blend of East and West: stylized flowers and curious geometric forms are freely distributed across the surface. The lack of clear symmetry gives the piece a more informal, 'natural' feel. Derby porcelain was made in direct competition with imports from China. As England’s empire expanded, so did its market for luxury goods. Archaeological research in Derby itself is giving us insights into the factory system used to produce these wares, and the social lives of the workers, mostly women, who painted them. Understanding this dish means delving into the economic and social history of the period: trade routes, factory production, and the rise of consumer culture. By looking into these factors, we can better understand how such objects came into being and what they meant to the people who used them.