Plate c. 1810

This plate was made at the Wedgwood Manufactory, but we can't date it precisely. The blue and white floral decoration recalls the ‘Willow Pattern’ that became ubiquitous on British ceramics from the late 18th century. The pattern was itself a Western appropriation of Chinese porcelain design. It emerged as British companies like Wedgwood attempted to compete with imports from China. By adapting and re-circulating Chinese motifs, ceramics producers sought to capture a wider share of the market. Often these designs were applied to new forms made for a European context, such as this plate. The ‘Willow Pattern’ therefore reflects a complex cultural exchange that occurred as the British Empire expanded its reach into Asia and sought to dominate global trade. Historians of design and material culture draw on a range of archives to explore these transcultural connections.