Plaque with Prince William Charles Henry Friso c. 1745 - 1755

This plaque depicting Prince William Charles Henry Friso was made anonymously using tin-glazed earthenware. The process of creating tin-glazed earthenware, also known as Delftware, involves coating a fired clay body with a glaze containing tin oxide, which creates a smooth, opaque white surface. This surface then becomes the canvas for intricate hand-painted decoration, typically using metal oxides to achieve the vibrant blue hues we see here, along with manganese for the brown outlines. The distinctive qualities of Delftware, with its crisp lines and glossy surface, allowed artisans to mimic the appearance of more expensive porcelain, making decorative objects more accessible to a wider audience. Delftware production relied on division of labor, with specialized workshops handling different stages of the process, reflecting the burgeoning industrial practices of the time. By understanding the materials and making, we can appreciate how this plaque straddles the line between art, craft, and industry, embodying the complex social and economic dynamics of its era.