Plate 1800

David Spinner made this earthenware plate with a creamware glaze sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century, likely in Pennsylvania. The central image is a man on horseback, perhaps an officer in a military uniform. The piece invites questions about the public role of art in early America. As the colonies transitioned to a republic, there was a felt need for visual symbols and cultural references that could help forge a national identity. Ceramic objects like this plate, though relatively humble, could disseminate such imagery widely. The figure on horseback seems to reference European military portraiture. How might this image have resonated with American audiences? Was it intended to celebrate military prowess, or to subtly critique the militaristic ambitions of the new nation? What was the relationship between the artisan and the consumer? Piecing together the social conditions that shaped artistic production requires careful investigation of primary source materials like probate records, merchant invoices, and newspaper advertisements. By situating this plate within its original context, we can gain insight into the complex interplay between art, culture, and society in early America.