Seven Designs for Decorated Plates 1845 - 1855

Alfred Henry Forrester created these seven designs for decorated plates in the 19th century. As a period of immense industrial growth, the Victorian era saw the rise of a middle class eager to express their status through consumer goods. These designs offer a glimpse into the aesthetic sensibilities of the time. We see classical motifs alongside more whimsical floral patterns. How do these designs reflect the complex social hierarchies of Victorian England, where the dinner table was a stage for performing class distinctions? The plates, intended for a domestic setting, raise questions about gender roles and the performativity of Victorian ideals of home and family. The act of designing and decorating such objects—often delegated to women—suggests the subtle ways in which identity and artistry intertwined within the confines of domestic life. The desire for beauty and order speaks to the human need for meaning, a sentiment that transcends time.