Plate 1755 - 1758

This plate was made by William Duesbury in the 18th century out of soft-paste porcelain. It is a delicate rendering of botanical life with an emphasis on asymmetry, characteristic of the Rococo style. William Duesbury was instrumental in elevating British porcelain to compete with continental manufacturers. His work catered to the tastes of the burgeoning middle class who sought to emulate the aristocracy. Tableware, like this plate, became a marker of status and refinement. Consider the labor that went into this seemingly simple object. From the mining of raw materials to the meticulous hand-painting, countless individuals were involved in its creation, and the labor that went into it was often invisible. While Duesbury's factory brought economic opportunities, it also reproduced existing social hierarchies. The beauty of this plate belies the complex web of power, labor, and aspiration that it embodies.