Incense Burner c. 1830

This quaint incense burner was made by the Staffordshire Potteries. It is just one of the many ceramic objects produced in the Staffordshire region of England. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Staffordshire became a global center for ceramic production. Many of these factories mass-produced inexpensive earthenware for a rapidly expanding middle class eager to emulate the lifestyles of the wealthy. The design of this incense burner draws on the picturesque aesthetic, with its quaint cottage form and floral embellishments. This aesthetic was popularized by Romantic poets and artists. But here, mass production transforms what was once considered high art into a domestic trinket. Studying trade records, factory inventories, and design catalogs can help us understand the complex social and economic forces behind objects like this. It allows us to see how art and design were democratized.