Plate 1745 - 1775

This plate, of the Whieldon type, was crafted from earthenware. Its mottled brown and cream glaze harkens back to a time of expanding global trade and colonial dynamics. Such tableware provided a novel aesthetic experience for consumers eager to display their knowledge and embrace the exotic. Yet, we must also consider the human cost of this era. The raw materials used to create these objects were often sourced from colonized lands, and the labor that went into their production was sometimes the result of exploited workforces. The plate offers us a lens through which to examine questions of identity, class, and empire. As you consider this utilitarian object, reflect on the complex interplay of cultural exchange, economic exploitation, and personal narratives that it embodies.