Dish 1814 - 1839

This dish was made by Samuel Kilbourn in the United States. Though undated, Kilbourn worked in Connecticut in the early 19th century. At this time, pewter was increasingly replaced by ceramics in American households. As industrial manufacturing became more widespread, pewter objects went from status symbols to items of everyday use. The rise of a market economy transformed many artisans like Kilbourn from independent producers to wage laborers. To understand the social function of objects like this, historians might consult probate inventories and archaeological reports. These sources can show us not only who owned pewter dishes, but also how they were displayed and used in different communities. These artifacts and records remind us that what might seem like a simple household object carries a wealth of social and institutional history.