Plate c. 1770

This plate was made at the Wedgwood Manufactory, and shows the innovative use of earthenware. The plate is made from creamware, a type of refined earthenware perfected by Josiah Wedgwood. Its smooth surface provided a perfect canvas for decoration. Notice the hand-painted peacock, which gives the plate its charm. Creamware was developed in response to a growing demand for affordable, yet elegant tableware. Wedgwood's factory system allowed for mass production, making items like this plate accessible to a wider market, thus responding to capitalist modes of production. Each piece required skilled labor, from the potters who shaped the clay to the painters who added the final touches. The division of labor within the factory allowed for efficiency, but also meant that individual workers were often responsible for only a small part of the process. The artistry and the industrial processes behind it challenge the separation of craft and fine art.