Soup plate 19th century

Curator: Here we have a soup plate from the 19th century, crafted by J. and W. Ridgway of Cauldon, Stoke. The ceramic piece currently resides here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My first thought? It's like peering into a memory. The grayscale palette, the cityscape, it all feels a bit dreamy and removed from our immediate reality. Like a sepia-toned photograph faded with time. Curator: Indeed. The central image employs a monochrome landscape drawing style, depicting an urban scene with architectural precision. Observe how the city scape is framed within an octagonal panel, lending geometric structure to the overall composition. Editor: And look at the playful contrast! That rather formal architectural scene is surrounded by these whimsical cherubs and flourishes. It's as if the plate can't decide if it wants to be serious art or a delightful toy. Does that framing almost undermine the purported realism? Curator: Not necessarily undermine, but perhaps complicate. The plate engages in a dialectic between representation and decoration, using a structured perspectival image set against ornamentation, creating an interplay between depth and surface, functionality and art. The use of repetition also underscores the object's serial nature. Editor: That's true. These details aren't quite matching up: those adorable little cupids lounging around up top don't quite sync with the stoic people bustling in that monochrome world. It's kind of wonderful. Curator: And there is a structural element in play that is further enhanced by the palette used here. Without the colours, the shadows and geometry work hard in unison to define depth and shape, even when at first it seems purely functional, even practical. Editor: Agreed. It's like this soup plate has secrets it isn't telling, that is almost refusing to tell. This makes looking at it feel even more profound than expected! Curator: The ceramic material and decoration combine functionality with artistry. A wonderful, and insightful consideration for even such practical items as tableware. Editor: Well said! This has given me quite a new perspective, almost feeling that function is secondary to this creation and more that someone wants a story alongside their dinner. Curator: A delightful assessment indeed. The Soup Plate successfully transforms utilitarian item into a tableau vivant. Editor: I'll definitely be thinking about more the stories in everyday objects, well after the soup has been consumed.