Platter 1814 - 1830

This is a porcelain platter made by Crown Derby, a company established in England around 1750. The platter embodies a style of decorative arts intended for an aristocratic class that wanted to display its wealth and good taste. Note the intricate floral patterns, rich cobalt blue, and gilded details, all visual codes signaling luxury and refinement. These porcelain objects were status symbols, displayed in homes to impress visitors. This speaks to the social conditions of 18th-century England, where industrialization allowed for mass production and a growing middle class eager to mimic aristocratic lifestyles. Yet, while these objects catered to elite tastes, they also provided employment for the working class. By studying account books, factory records, and pattern books, historians can piece together a more complete picture of the complex social and economic relationships embodied by this platter. Art is never simply "art for art's sake," but is contingent on its social and institutional context.