Figure Dish 1880 - 1890

Editor: This striking earthenware sculpture, the "Figure Dish," was crafted by McKee and Brothers sometime between 1880 and 1890. What I find particularly captivating is its folk-art feel. It’s so simple, almost charmingly naive in its representation. What do you see in it? Curator: Charming is right! I am immediately transported, as if plucked from this crisp, contemporary space, to the cozy warmth of a late 19th-century farmhouse kitchen. Can’t you almost smell the freshly baked bread wafting from the oven? The unassuming beauty of the everyday, right? Beyond mere function, though—imagine, how its whiteness gleams!—these folk objects told of community and tradition. They were also declarations of homemaking prowess, symbols of plenty for the families that proudly displayed them. Do you get a sense of that from it? Editor: Yes, I see what you mean! So it's more than just decoration – it’s a quiet statement of home and family. What strikes me now is that, while seemingly humble, it's also incredibly elegant in its simplicity. Curator: Precisely! It holds so many echoes. Consider the cultural reverence for nature reflected here: The chicken, the provider! And the artistry, of course; don't underestimate it! Those glassmakers, skilled in their craft, were folk heroes themselves. To breathe such delicate, deliberate form from the earth - magnificent! A vessel of not just material but the heart! Editor: Looking at it now, knowing its history, I see so much more than just a chicken dish. It's like a little window into the past. Curator: Exactly. Art’s ability to time travel! You see a chicken, yes, but then, you see home. Which is, perhaps, what makes it worth our time in the here and now.