Dinner plate c. 1865

This dinner plate was produced by Minton's Pottery and Porcelain Factory. Though seemingly a simple piece of tableware, it quietly speaks to the complexities of global trade and cultural exchange in the 19th century. The elaborate design, with its blend of European and Asian motifs, hints at the Victorian era's fascination with the "Orient." European manufacturers often incorporated imagery and styles from cultures they encountered through trade and colonization. This appropriation was frequently unacknowledged, reflecting the power dynamics of the time. The plate embodies this mix of admiration and exploitation. As you look at the intricate patterns, consider the hands that crafted this object and the social and economic systems that made it possible. What narratives are being celebrated and what stories are being quietly erased? It is an example of the emotional, economic, and colonial investment associated with the act of dining.