Saucer with an image of the Raid on the Medway after 1794

This is a Delftware saucer made by an anonymous maker, decorated with an image of the Raid on the Medway. Delftware, with its tin-glaze over earthenware, was of course an attempt to mimic porcelain, the much more refined ceramic being imported at great expense from China and Japan. The appeal of Delftware was that it democratized the look of luxury, and it’s fascinating to consider the division of labor involved in these pieces. The potters forming the clay, the painters adding decoration, the merchants distributing the wares – all participants in a burgeoning global economy. The image of the Raid on the Medway itself speaks to this context, commemorating a Dutch naval victory over the English. In short, this saucer isn’t just a pretty thing; it’s a material record of complex social, economic, and political forces at play in the 17th century. By considering the object in this way, we can move beyond simple aesthetic appreciation and understand its place in history.