Plate c. 1752

This porcelain plate, now held at the Art Institute of Chicago, was created by the Manufacture de porcelaine de Vincennes, active between 1740 and 1756. Think about the social rituals this plate evokes. In its time, porcelain was more than mere tableware; it was a symbol of status and taste, central to the rituals of dining that underscored social hierarchies. This plate, with its cobalt blue border edged with gold, is also decorated with a central bouquet of colourful flowers. These elements speak to broader themes of wealth, trade, and colonial power. Sugar, tea, and coffee, often served on such plates, came at a steep price, often extracted through the brutal realities of slavery and colonial exploitation. Consider then, how an object of beauty can also be a silent witness to a more complex and troubling past. It invites us to reflect on the relationship between luxury, labor, and the hidden histories embedded in everyday objects.