Dish c. 1755

This delicate dish was created by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. The blue floral design is a celebration of the natural world, yet its creation and reception were deeply embedded in the socio-economic structures of its time. The production of porcelain like this relied heavily on global trade networks, connecting British craftsmanship with resources and markets across the world. The dish, with its refined elegance, speaks to the aspirations and values of the upper and middle classes who consumed such goods. Consider the labor involved, and the complex relationships between production, trade, and consumption. A piece like this reflects the identities and power dynamics inherent in the era of industrial expansion. It’s a reminder that even the most beautiful objects carry within them the marks of history.