Dish with stenciled decoration 1740 - 1750

This stenciled dish was made by the Doccia Porcelain Manufactory in Italy between 1737 and 1896. The imagery on the plate is striking. We can see a central tree motif surrounded by dense floral patterns. The dark blue stencil work against the white porcelain gives it a crisp, refined look. Pieces like this offer a glimpse into the economic structures of the time. The Doccia Manufactory, established in the 18th century, was one of the first to produce porcelain in Italy on a large scale. Porcelain was once a luxury good, primarily imported from Asia. The establishment of factories like Doccia meant that these goods became more accessible to the European middle class. To fully understand a piece like this, we can dig into the manufactory’s records, study similar pieces from the time, and explore the social history of porcelain in Europe. Art is so much more than just what meets the eye; it reflects the society that created it.