Dish c. 1770

This porcelain dish was made by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company, most likely in England in the late 18th century. The scene within it, painted in cobalt blue, is a pastoral fantasy, of horses frolicking in a landscape, with motifs taken from Chinese art. The image is fascinating because it represents a whole web of cultural and economic exchange. The blue and white design is directly indebted to Chinese porcelain which was imported to Europe in huge quantities at this time. Porcelain was known as 'white gold' because it created intense desire, which in turn drove colonial expansion and trade imbalances. The English porcelain industry grew in response to this demand. It mimicked the designs of Chinese wares, but also catered to a growing sense of English national identity, with idealized rural scenes. Understanding the art of the 18th century means looking beyond national borders and delving into the history of colonialism, trade and industry.