Cream Pitcher 1887

This cream pitcher was made by the Union Porcelain Works, a company operating in Brooklyn, New York. It’s porcelain, meaning it’s made from refined clay fired at a very high temperature. That gives it the beautiful white color, translucency, and the potential for crisp, precise forms. The decoration, including the botanical motifs, is applied on top of the glaze. What’s interesting here is that the Union Porcelain Works was trying to compete with European manufacturers. Porcelain was not an easy thing to make, and it required significant investment in technology and skilled labor. By achieving this level of refinement, the company was making a statement about American industrial capability. The pitcher is more than just a functional object, or a pretty thing – it's a symbol of national ambition. Looking at this object, we can appreciate how much it embodies the intertwined histories of craft, design, industry, and national identity.