Soup plate 19th century

This soup plate was made by James and Ralph Clews around 1836, using earthenware and transfer printing. Earthenware, a humble material, belies the detailed scene it depicts. Look closely and you’ll see that the image – probably Windsor Castle – is achieved through transfer printing, a technique that allowed for mass production. The design was engraved on a copper plate, inked, and then transferred to the ceramic surface using paper. This enabled the Clews brothers to apply intricate designs quickly and consistently, catering to a growing market for affordable, decorative tableware. Consider the labor involved: from the potters shaping the plate to the engravers creating the design and the workers applying the transfers. This plate isn't just a dish; it's a product of industrial processes, reflecting the changing landscape of production and consumption in the 19th century. Appreciating this context enriches our understanding of the object, beyond mere aesthetic appreciation.