Flat Dish - Virginia State Arms c. 1936

This is Helmut Hiatt's flat dish from around 1955 which holds the Virginia State Arms, using what looks like paint on ceramic. There's an amazing openness here, you can see how the forms emerged, bit by bit, from Hiatt's hand. The plate is rendered in tones of grey, and the brushwork is economical, yet the details are surprisingly complete. The figure is striking, standing over a vanquished foe, her spear raised. The surface of the plate has a kind of sheen, suggesting layers of glaze, built up over time. Look at how the floral patterns are embedded into the undulating form of the rim, each one being slightly different to its neighbour. This work reminds me of some early American folk art, the kind of thing you might find decorating a colonial home, and yet, with its muted palette and focus on shape, Hiatt seems to be inviting us into a space of ambiguity.