Plate 1822 - 1839

This transfer-printed earthenware plate was made in Staffordshire, England, during the early 19th century, by Joseph Stubbs. The vivid blue and white design was achieved through transfer printing, a process that allowed for mass production of ceramics. The pattern was engraved on a copper plate, then transferred onto paper, which was then pressed onto the plate before firing. This was a relatively quick process, a step up from hand-painted designs. The image itself depicts a picturesque scene, likely of a grand estate, idealizing country life and leisure. Transferware like this plate was hugely popular, catering to a growing middle class with aspirations of refinement, while also speaking to British colonial ambition. The amount of labor required to produce this piece highlights the industrial prowess of Staffordshire potteries, and the availability of these wares to a broader market reflects the changing dynamics of production and consumption at the time. Ultimately, it collapses distinctions between decorative and fine art.