Benjamin Franklin
Medium
Faience
Dimensions
Diam. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
Classification
Plate
Culture
French
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Huntington, 1883
Accession Number
83.2.273
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking faience portrait Benjamin Franklin in profile, a popular in 18th-century commemorative wares. Created in France between the American Revolution and the late 19th century, the circular plate measures just over eight inches across and exemplifies the decorative arts tradition of translating celebrated figures onto everyday objects. Faience, with its tin-glazed surface, allowed for crisp, durable images that brought political icons into French households. Franklin’s extended stay in France from 1776 onward made him a cultural sensation, and this piece reflects the widespread admira...