Charger 1776

This Charger was made in 1776, by an anonymous artist. It's crafted from tin-glazed earthenware, with painted decoration. The whiteness of the charger is due to the tin oxide in the glaze. This hides the color of the fired clay beneath, providing a clean surface for decoration. The blue design you see is painted directly onto the raw glaze before firing. This requires considerable skill as the colors change during the firing process. Tin-glazed earthenware was first developed in the Middle East, then spread to Europe. By the 18th century, it was being produced in factories across the continent. In this period, the making of ceramics was tied to the rise of industrial production and global trade. Though seemingly humble, this plate represents a complex intersection of craft, commerce, and cultural exchange.