Plate c. 15th century

Editor: This is a 15th-century ceramic plate of anonymous authorship, currently held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. It's crafted from earthenware, decorated with these really fascinating green geometric patterns...It almost feels like looking at a stylized flower. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: What I find compelling is thinking about the entire process and material involved. We’re looking at earthenware, a very common, readily available material, but transformed through labor and skill. Who was the artisan, and under what conditions were they working? How were these decorative motifs socially constructed and valued? Editor: So, you're more interested in the "how" and "why" of its creation than the artistic intention behind the design? Curator: Precisely! This wasn’t created in a vacuum. This plate connects us to a whole network of production – the digging of clay, the shaping, the firing, the painting. Consider, for instance, the socio-economic status associated with the plate being hand-made; how does it move away or stay in line with mass-produced contemporary pieces? How does that impact consumption, for example? Editor: That’s interesting, I never thought about this plate embodying so much labor and cultural context. Looking closer, I see the slight imperfections, which do make me think about the artisan who made this by hand. Curator: Yes, it humanizes it, doesn't it? These 'imperfections' are the residue of the maker's hand. These aren't just flaws, but marks of production. They offer a narrative often absent in mass-produced objects. We can tell this piece was special to someone who worked with care to create it. Editor: I see now how understanding the materials and the means of production can deepen our appreciation for even seemingly simple objects. Thank you for sharing such unique insights!