Tray 1730 - 1770

This tray features a complex floral design, and a heraldic shield. Without knowing the maker, it's difficult to say for sure, but its design speaks to cultural exchange and identity in the context of global trade. The flowers evoke a sense of delicate beauty. But, it is the shield that anchors the object in a specific cultural context. Heraldry emerged in medieval Europe to identify knights in armor, and then to denote family lineage and status. So, the tray becomes a complex cultural artifact, perhaps made for or by someone who wanted to blend elite European identity with the aesthetics of Chinese export porcelain. In this way, the tray straddles worlds, and asks us to think about the identities of those who engage with it.