Plate with flower sprays, garlands and floral scrolls c. 1775 - 1790

Editor: This is a ceramic plate made in Clignancourt, dating from about 1775 to 1790. It’s adorned with these delicate flower sprays, garlands and scrolls, and I immediately notice the asymmetry within that circular frame. How do you interpret this piece? Curator: The plate, seemingly a decorative object, becomes quite potent when situated within its historical moment. Rococo, with its flourishes and supposed frivolity, served the aristocratic elite. Consider the socio-political undercurrents: while this plate was being meticulously hand-painted, what societal inequities were being masked by this display of refinement? What forms of labour were exploited to afford such luxury? Editor: That’s a powerful point. So, the beauty of the plate might actually serve as a distraction from some troubling realities? Curator: Precisely. This aesthetic can be viewed as a tool that upheld class divisions. Each floral detail, each carefully placed garland, whispers of power and privilege. Look at its production; porcelain was prized and a guarded European secret at the time. Only a small part of society could use this tableware. Editor: So the plate, even if passively, is making a statement about status. How does it speak to modern ideas about wealth and societal hierarchy? Curator: Does it differ from our current obsession with branding and display? What materials are deemed acceptable expressions of class now and who dictates their worth? Reflect on fast-fashion imitations, their low price sustained through poor labor standards. The core issues haven't vanished; only transformed. What do you make of the gold edging? Editor: Now that you point it out, it feels more like a reinforcement of the power structures, especially against the floral, more organic components. This really shifts my perspective. Thanks for elaborating on the historical and social elements! Curator: My pleasure. This approach lets us not only enjoy aesthetics, but challenges us to consider whose stories are being told, and often, whose are suppressed, within artistic expressions.