Plate 1700 - 1750

This pewter plate was made in the 18th century by Samuel Ellis. Circular in form, the plate echoes a motif found across cultures and epochs: the circle. From ancient sun disks to halos in religious art, the circle symbolizes wholeness, the eternal, and the divine. Consider how mandalas, circular diagrams representing the cosmos, are used in various spiritual traditions to focus meditation and foster inner peace. The simple plate also serves a communal function. Think of the round tables of medieval legends, where equality and unity were represented through the shared form. What collective memories and subconscious connections does this plate evoke, inviting us to reflect on the universal human experiences of nourishment, community, and continuity? Just as the circle is without beginning or end, so the plate invites one to recognize the enduring cycle of life.