Pitcher 1889 - 1895

The New England Pottery Company produced this pitcher with a matching plate sometime between 1876 and 1914. During this period, decorative arts flourished, reflecting growing industrialization and complex social hierarchies. This pitcher offers a glimpse into the aesthetics and values of its time. The gilded water lilies, rendered in exquisite detail, evoke a sense of luxury and refinement, signaling the aspirations of the emerging middle class. Yet, these objects also served to reinforce class distinctions. The ability to possess and display such intricately decorated items was a marker of social status. The mass production of ceramics allowed for wider accessibility to such commodities, democratizing taste while also preserving an aura of exclusivity. Consider the hands that shaped this pitcher, the social rituals it might have served, and the stories it silently holds.