Platter 1755 - 1775

This oval platter was produced by the Gaspard Robert Manufactory, though we are unsure of the exact date. Floral patterns like the ones seen here were quite popular in the decorative arts of 18th century France. It was a period of increasing social mobility where the aristocracy, in particular, aspired to a lifestyle of refined leisure, a lifestyle that was enabled through wealth acquired from colonial trade. Decoration and display were central to this culture. Luxury items like this platter, made of imported porcelain, represented a new kind of globalized economy. Looking at a seemingly simple object like this, the historian might investigate company records to discover how the Robert manufactory was funded. We might also examine shipping manifests to see how the materials were transported to France. This platter reminds us that the beauty and elegance of art objects are often the result of complex social, economic, and political forces.