Corn pitcher 1855 - 1860

Curator: The ‘Corn Pitcher’ before us, dating roughly from 1855 to 1860, was created by the Southern Porcelain Company, using ceramic porcelain. The pristine white porcelain is incredibly striking. Editor: It really is, and even starkly so. The intricate molded design, so very white, gives a sense of haunting beauty. What's most engaging is the scale: you wouldn’t guess from a glance how intricately the design elements have been shaped. Curator: Yes, I'm particularly drawn to the fact that corn isn't just a plant here; it is loaded with significance. It reflects American agricultural abundance but can also carry a sense of complicated ideas surrounding the agrarian South at the time, slavery, economy, and of course, industry. Editor: Porcelain, too, is crucial here, signifying refinement. I am really taken with how that contrasts with corn, something that rises right out of the land. This very refined material is used to form the images of such a primary crop! I bet forming the incredibly subtle botanical relief on porcelain must have been quite demanding labour. The pressure needed to force the clay into intricate forms before firing... incredible! Curator: Exactly, these symbols create an intricate dialogue. On the one hand you have high art or decorative art as you noted. The visual, or what corn represents and the material; how this all translates into power structures becomes truly meaningful. I would say its cultural weight is impressive. Editor: The design speaks so distinctly of an idealization of American productivity but there are certainly uncomfortable contradictions evident in the combination of its symbolism and material production. A single piece can contain so much complexity. Curator: Indeed. This corn pitcher offers us a view into the visual and cultural currents of its time. Editor: And the tangible reality behind idealized aesthetics. It brings you to think about labour, value, and material representation!