Plate 1810

Editor: This is a ceramic earthenware plate dating to 1810, currently residing at The Met. It has floral and geometric designs that feel distinctly folk art-inspired. What historical context might have influenced the creation and style of a plate like this? Curator: Given its folk art designation, its location, and date, I immediately think of Pennsylvania German traditions. This community heavily influenced American decorative arts with their emphasis on painted earthenware, often using stylized floral motifs. The prevalence of such a practical and artistic object raises a point. Consider how objects like these plates, accessible to a broader population, functioned not just as domestic items but also as a form of cultural expression and communal identity building. Editor: So, the act of creating and using a decorative plate was itself a political or social statement? Curator: In a way, yes. Everyday objects carry significant cultural weight. Folk art often reflects the values and aesthetic preferences of a particular community, in this case expressing continuity with their cultural heritage within a new environment. Also, note the names inscribed on the plate. Consider the relationship and social exchange enacted when something like this was made for, or given to, Andrew Uhler by someone named Faber on the 28th of whatever month in 1810. Does that change your initial interpretation? Editor: That makes me wonder, was this a common practice? Presenting plates as gifts? How did these traditions develop and maintain their meaning over time? It’s fascinating how such a simple object becomes a lens for viewing community, artistic practice, and identity. Curator: Exactly! And that’s the power of examining art within its socio-historical framework. It reveals layers of meaning that we might otherwise miss. Understanding who was making the art, who it was for, and where it circulated deepens our understanding of a society’s values. Editor: I'll definitely be looking at decorative arts with fresh eyes now!