Plate 1815 - 1825

This plate was made by James Plant in the 19th century. The central image depicts a group of working-class men gambling in a dark and dingy tavern. This scene gives us insight into the everyday lives of ordinary people in 19th-century England. The Industrial Revolution had brought widespread poverty and social unrest, and activities like gambling offered a temporary escape from the hardships of daily life. The plate's decoration, which surrounds this scene of men gambling, also tells us something about the culture of the time. These kinds of plates were often commissioned as commemorative objects, to celebrate historical events, or as a way to display status. By looking at historical documents, such as census records, newspaper articles, and other visual records, we can learn more about the conditions that shaped this artwork, and understand how it reflects the social and cultural values of its time.