Mantel 1830 - 1845

This Mantel was produced in the Staffordshire Potteries, the heart of the British ceramic industry. It’s made of earthenware, decorated with colorful glazes in a style that imitates porcelain. Consider the deep blue ground, embellished with gilded ornament and delicate floral panels. This décor would have been achieved by a labor-intensive process of transfer-printing and hand-painting, performed by skilled artisans. The impressive scale and elaborate design suggests it was made for a wealthy client, keen to display their taste and social standing. Staffordshire was a hive of activity during the Industrial Revolution, its factories churning out wares for home and export. A piece like this sits at an interesting intersection. It is technically a product of industrialization, yet it also showcases remarkable handcraft. By looking closely at the materials and making of objects like this, we can appreciate the complex relationship between art, labor, and the marketplace.