Pitcher 1849 - 1858

This pitcher was made by the United States Pottery Company sometime after 1852. Floral motifs such as roses and grapes in gold leaf were highly popular, so it is likely this pitcher was catering to the rising middle classes. With new technologies making mass production easier, companies were looking to meet consumer demand for decorative objects. As a result, the United States Pottery Company mass-produced pieces like this pitcher to be sold at an affordable price. However, companies were keen to maintain the luxury associations of handcrafted artwork. This is why they would often add elaborate decoration to their designs. Looking at the archives of trade publications and design pattern books can tell us a great deal about consumer trends. Here we see an example of an American company responding to consumer demand for decorative and useful objects.