Plate c. 1760

This plate was made anonymously, and we don’t know exactly when. But we can tell you a lot about how. It’s earthenware pottery, with a tin glaze. The floral motif is hand-painted, which would have been quite labor-intensive. The potter would have taken great care to control the firing of the clay, its shape and the painting of the decoration. Note the composition, with radiating flowers balanced between the rim and the central floral decoration. While this plate may not be fine art, it is a testament to the skill of its maker, and to the enduring power of everyday objects. It also speaks to the increasingly globalized economy that would have motivated its production, and allowed for its distribution. So next time you eat off a plate, take a moment to appreciate the work that went into its creation. It's a small act of recognizing the often-invisible labor behind the things we use every day.