Plaque 1892 - 1895

This plaque depicting Washington's Headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey, was made by Charles Volkmar using ceramic and glaze. The blue and white design is created through a process called transferware. Here, an image is engraved on a copper plate, printed onto tissue paper, and then transferred onto the ceramic surface before firing. This method, popularized in the 19th century, allowed for mass production and distribution of decorative ceramics, fueling the growing consumer market. Volkmar himself was deeply involved in this intersection of art and industry. The choice of the subject matter, a historical landmark, speaks to a growing interest in American identity. By combining this patriotic imagery with industrial production techniques, Volkmar created an object that straddles the line between art, craft, and commodity. Paying attention to these materials and techniques, allows us to appreciate the complex social and economic forces at play in the creation of even seemingly simple decorative objects.