Meat Dish c. 1775

This is an anonymous “Meat Dish”, exact date unknown. During a time when elaborate dining rituals reflected social status, the “Meat Dish”, even without knowing when it was made, serves as a symbol of cultural identity and class. Eating meat at this time was a luxury, so the dish indicates a family of high class. The arrangement of multiple dishes suggests a formal setting, indicative of a desire to communicate wealth and sophistication. What does it mean to present a dish with such ceremony? The act of serving becomes a performance, reinforcing gendered roles within the household. The whiteness of the ceramic could symbolize purity and cleanliness. As you observe, consider the social dynamics embedded in this set. It is an artifact of a time that dictated gender roles and power dynamics through everyday objects.