Plate 1846

This plate was made at the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres out of porcelain. The material has a crisp white surface, perfect for receiving the painted decoration. The plate has a gilded rim, alongside painted decoration in shades of red, gold, and lavender, with ornate scrolls. Soft-paste porcelain such as this was a luxury material, and Sèvres became famous for it. The factory operated under royal patronage, and its wares were prized by aristocrats and the affluent bourgeoisie. Creating the plate involved a division of labor. Some artisans would have thrown the basic form on a wheel, others were responsible for mixing pigments and applying the decoration. Still others fired the porcelain in kilns at very high temperatures. So next time you look at porcelain, remember how much collective skill goes into its making, and how enmeshed it is with hierarchies of labor, wealth, and taste.