Dish 1807 - 1813

Editor: So, this "Dish," crafted by Thomas Danforth III somewhere between 1807 and 1813. It’s currently at The Met. Made of earthenware, it looks so simple, almost… austere, at first glance. It is like looking into a pewter pond! What do you see in this piece, beyond its utilitarian form? Curator: Ah, yes, utilitarian until we imbue it with a bit of poetry, right? Think about the hands that shaped it, the fires that baked it. Each scratch and mark whispers a story of its creation, of the daily life it witnessed. It's like a silent witness to history, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, but I suppose every object has a story if you look close enough. I mostly just saw…a dish. Curator: Exactly! And isn't that marvelous? That even the most humble object can hold universes within itself. The monochrome finish adds to that depth too; it has absorbed many stories over the centuries! This could even become an artistic expression simply using earthenware! Do you feel like it opens our mind into an awareness of the artist, even beyond their time? Editor: I suppose so. It's definitely got me thinking about all the everyday objects around me a little differently. It’s pretty amazing how an object this simple can trigger all this conversation. Curator: Indeed. Sometimes, the loudest statements are whispered. You got this, dearie. Now go ponder that!