Bord van hardgebakken aardewerk met een paarse en goudkleurige decoraties. c. 1840 - 1860

Curator: Here we have a hard-baked earthenware plate made by Charles Meigh around 1840 to 1860. Notice the purple and gold decoration. What’s your initial take on it? Editor: It's unexpectedly bold! That contrast, you know? Black and gold can lean stuffy, but there's a playful energy here. I think because the detailing is very floral, almost naive in its representation. Curator: The decoration is certainly eye-catching. This aesthetic was very popular during the mid-19th century as ceramics grew more ornate. Notice the concentric rings of design – a band of stylized floral motifs around the edge, echoing the more intricate medallion in the center. Editor: It makes you wonder what kind of social context birthed a plate like this, right? Were folks eating fancy puddings off it or just showing off in cabinets? It strikes me as something of value, something to cherish for years to come. Curator: Exactly. The plate almost becomes a little time capsule in this sense. Ceramics, especially fine earthenware, played a crucial role in Victorian domestic life. This was more than just a functional object, but also an expression of wealth, taste, and cultural refinement. Editor: Absolutely, and those colors – the gilded touches against that almost goth purple-black – must have made such a visual statement at the time. There’s a real flair for drama. Curator: Indeed. Gold leaf, here, does not only signal material worth, it carries a symbolic meaning of illumination, perhaps a nod to the increasing wealth of the era, reflecting an optimistic future. It also reflects the impact of gothic and neo-gothic architecture throughout design from this era, particularly in the pointed shape and detail in the design. Editor: Looking at the level of craft involved... It really does invite you to imagine those Victorian-era tea parties, a blend of conversation, delicious cakes and... silent judgements. Curator: Ha! Exactly. It is that interesting mix of beauty, wealth, social cues, all packaged together. Editor: I suppose in the end, that is the enduring appeal. Something beautiful is also full of stories waiting to be unlocked, don't you think? Curator: Absolutely, stories embedded in material culture, available for us to imagine, to project onto, and perhaps, learn a bit about ourselves.