Rond bord c. 1770 - 1795

This round plate was made by Carolus Theodorus de Ruijr in the 1700s from pewter. Pewter is an alloy, mostly tin mixed with a bit of other metals like copper or antimony to make it stronger. You can see that it has a soft grey sheen. This comes from the polishing process after the plate was cast in a mold. The level of skill needed to achieve this kind of finish shouldn't be underestimated. This was a time when metalwork was increasingly divided between handcraft and early industrial production, and while an object like this might seem simple, it reflects a complex system of labor and trade. The mining of the raw materials, the skills of the pewterer, the distribution of the finished product – all these factors give the plate its significance. Thinking about materials, making, and context helps us understand the true value of objects like this, challenging the traditional separation of fine art and craft.