Lobed Circular Dish c. 1800

This is a creamware dish made by Wedgwood, probably in the late 18th century, decorated with a delicate green pattern. Wedgwood was a key player in the industrialization of ceramics in England, producing high-quality wares for a growing middle class. The green vegetal design fits into a broader fashion for botanical illustration and decoration, fueled by increased global trade and scientific exploration. But beyond its aesthetic appeal, this dish tells us about the social changes of its time. Serving ware like this signified a new culture of domesticity, where the rituals of dining became a stage for demonstrating refinement and social status. Historians of the decorative arts use trade catalogs, pattern books, and even archaeological finds to understand the circulation and consumption of objects like this. What might seem like a simple dish reveals a complex web of economic, social, and cultural meanings.