Saucer-dish with an image of Prince Charles of Austria c. 1750 - 1774

This saucer dish, made by an anonymous artist, features an image of Prince Charles of Austria. It’s made of earthenware, covered in a tin glaze. The image is then painted on the surface with colorful overglaze enamels. Tin-glazed earthenware, often called Delftware, was developed to mimic the look of Chinese porcelain, a highly desirable import. But, instead of the fine white kaolin clay of porcelain, Delftware is made from coarser, more readily available earthenware. The tin glaze provides a white surface for decoration, and the overglaze enamels create a vibrant palette. The decoration is what really makes this dish interesting. Transferring images onto ceramics required skilled labor, and it speaks to a culture of consumption and display. By depicting Prince Charles, the maker ensured the dish would appeal to a specific clientele. This wasn't just a functional object, but a political statement, a display of allegiance, and a sign of wealth. It reminds us that even everyday objects can be powerful communicators of social and cultural values.