Platter 1870 - 1890

This striking platter was crafted by Challinor, Taylor and Company, and it now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The eye is immediately drawn to the swirling patterns within the platter, evocative of liquid forms frozen in time. These dynamic swirls create a sense of depth and movement, challenging our perception of the platter as a static object. The strategic arrangement of light and dark shades enhances the complexity of the design. The mottled effect introduces a tactile dimension, inviting us to imagine the texture of the surface. The rim of the platter features a series of notches, an element of structural rhythm that disrupts the expected smoothness of such an object. This subtle intervention invites questions about functionality versus pure aesthetic expression. The platter destabilizes the traditional understanding of ceramics. It presents itself as a piece where form and surface coalesce to challenge our understanding of domestic objects.