Compote 1875 - 1890

This is a porcelain compote, made by the Union Porcelain Works sometime between 1863 and 1922. During this era, American manufacturers often looked to classical antiquity to ennoble their wares, hoping to associate them with the prestige of ancient civilizations. The central figure is a classical allegory, perhaps of liberty. Yet, there's a tension here. While the image evokes ideals of freedom and enlightenment, the very act of producing and consuming such luxury items was deeply entwined with the economic realities of the time, including the exploitation of labor. Consider the hands that shaped this object, perhaps laboring under conditions far removed from the ideals represented on its surface. How does this juxtaposition of high ideals and everyday realities speak to the complexities of American identity and history?