Melkkan van aardewerk, Neale & Palmer Black Basalt c. 1790 - 1825

Curator: This is a Black Basalt milk jug, crafted by Neale & Palmer between 1790 and 1825. Editor: The subdued tone evokes a sense of classical austerity. Almost funereal, in a way, yet with an undeniable elegance. Curator: Black Basalt ware was developed as a cheaper alternative to porcelain, very popular because it mirrored the shapes and styles of luxury silverware. The pursuit of affordability through ceramic, a democratization of form. Editor: It's intriguing how the black colour affects its visual language. The imagery along the top—perhaps stylized foliage?—it becomes spectral, hinting at secret or lost meanings. Does it call back to a particular classical myth, or conjure images of pastoral life? Curator: Likely classical. It was a time of revivals, and this speaks to broader economic shifts where Wedgwood successfully manufactured ‘ancient’ forms, exploiting and creating consumer markets. Mass production met aristocratic desire. Editor: You’re right; it lacks a certain… handcrafted charm. The pursuit of precision leaves it somewhat cold, doesn’t it? Yet the black enhances the symbolism of rebirth or resilience perhaps, since basalt forms from volcanic fire? Curator: Perhaps the floral ornamentation gives a nod to the domestic sphere—balancing production, labour, and service. The industrializing world impacting both the higher and lower reaches of the classes through product availability. Editor: Considering this object, the play of light against the matte surface, combined with those somewhat obscured figures...it’s not simply a milk jug. The jug stands as a meditation on the human relationship to nature. Curator: Precisely! To see something everyday in the production, is how we find an unexpected depth when examining labor, material, form and historical context. Editor: Agreed, there's something potent about observing the mundane and unlocking latent significances, especially regarding culture and history. Curator: It adds nuance to its simplicity, as we trace its role from kiln to table, manufacturer to owner.