Sugar Bowl c. 1800

This sugar bowl, fabricated by the Wedgwood Manufactory, invites us to consider the intertwined histories of luxury, labor, and representation. Wedgwood pottery gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, becoming synonymous with refined taste and British craftsmanship. The bowl’s Neoclassical motifs—the reclining figure attended by cherubic figures—speak to a cultural fascination with antiquity. However, the seemingly innocent depiction masks a complex reality. Sugar, the bowl's intended contents, was a commodity produced by enslaved labor in the West Indies. Wedgwood, like many industries of the era, profited from this system, catering to an elite clientele whose wealth was built on exploitation. These objects, while aesthetically pleasing, prompt us to reflect on the uncomfortable truths of our shared past. The bowl becomes a potent reminder of how beauty and brutality can coexist, challenging us to confront the legacies of colonialism and slavery embedded within our material culture.