Butter Tub c. 1755

This butter tub was made by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. Like many porcelains, it probably began on a potter’s wheel, then was carefully embellished with modeled details to give it an appealingly organic quality. It’s a tour-de-force of fine ceramic production, a useful domestic object elevated through considerable skill. Look closely, and you’ll see transfer-printed decorations, and hand-painted details on top of that, which enliven the surface. Porcelain like this was made by a division of labor, meaning many hands were involved. Some would have mixed the clay, others throwing, and some printing. The artistry is really in the coordination of all these different kinds of expertise. As such, this tub is not just a pretty vessel for butter, it’s a testament to collective effort and the power of design to orchestrate that effort.