Figure Dish 1880 - 1890

The McKee and Brothers company created this opalescent glass “Figure Dish” sometime between 1856 and 1889. Objects like this were often made at the height of the British Empire’s colonial ambitions, a time when the West was captivated by exoticized and often inaccurate depictions of the East. The elephant, a symbol laden with cultural significance in many Asian countries, was often reduced to a mere decorative motif, stripped of its deeper meaning. Notice how the milky glass softens the elephant's form, almost as if obscuring its true nature. This aesthetic choice mirrors a broader societal tendency to gloss over the complexities of foreign cultures. The elephant is centrally placed, but trapped in a bowl. It makes me wonder, who gets to decide which stories are told, and whose voices are left unheard? This dish is a reminder of the power dynamics inherent in representation, inviting us to critically examine the stories we tell about ourselves and others.