Dish cross 1765 - 1775

This "Dish cross" was created by Ashworth, Ellis & Co. Its existence speaks to a time of great social and economic change. Though undated, dish crosses were most popular in the 18th and 19th century. These were decades defined by industrial advancement and expansion of the British Empire, which dramatically shaped cultural identities. As the British Empire grew, so did the wealth of the middle class, who began to emulate the lifestyles of the aristocracy. Looking at the form and the function of this dish cross, it would have been used as an elegant stand to keep serving dishes hot at the table. A signifier of wealth and status, these silver crosses demonstrate how domestic objects became potent symbols of social aspiration during this era. In this context, the dish cross embodies the intersection of class, culture, and colonialism in British society.