Plate 1809 - 1835

This plate was made by John & William Ridgway in the 19th century, decorated with a transfer-printed scene in cobalt blue. The central image presents an orientalist vision, replete with pagodas, boats, and figures in a distant, exotic land. These motifs are reminiscent of the Chinoiserie style popular in Europe since the 17th century, which reimagines Eastern culture through a Western lens. Consider the pagoda, a symbol deeply rooted in Buddhist and East Asian traditions, representing spiritual ascent and harmony with the cosmos. Its presence here speaks to the enduring allure of the East, yet transformed and reinterpreted for a Western audience. The waterways and ships evoke notions of trade, exploration, and cultural exchange, which in this context, hints at the complex history of colonialism and cultural appropriation. The stylized floral patterns around the plate's border mirror those found in Chinese porcelain, illustrating how cultural symbols evolve as they travel across time and space. This adaptation reflects a blend of admiration and the superimposition of Western aesthetic preferences on Eastern cultural artifacts. The plate serves as a vessel, carrying not just food, but also layered meanings of cultural encounter and transformation.