Plate 1745 - 1755

This plate was made in the 1700s by Joseph Flower from earthenware, and then decorated by hand with painted and transfer-printed designs. The material itself, earthenware, speaks to a specific moment in the history of ceramics. As Europeans sought to imitate the prized porcelains of East Asia, they experimented with different clays and firing techniques. Earthenware, while not as refined as porcelain, was more readily available and easier to work with. The decoration on this plate involved both painting and transfer printing, a process by which designs were printed on paper and then transferred to the ceramic surface before firing. Transfer printing allowed for more intricate and repeatable patterns, which democratized the process of design in some ways, while also demanding a different kind of labor. This combination of handcraft and mechanized reproduction is characteristic of the period, reflecting broader shifts in production and consumption. As a result, this plate is more than just a pretty object; it embodies a complex intersection of material innovation, artistic skill, and changing social dynamics.