Covered Vegetable Dish
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
5 7/16 x 9 5/8 in. (13.8 x 24.4 cm)
Classification
Vegetable dish
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Chace, 1969
Accession Number
69.194.31a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant Covered Vegetable Dish, crafted by the Union Porcelain Works in1885, exemplifies the sophistication of American porcelain production during late 19th century Produced in hard-paste porcelain—a technically demanding medium that rivaled European imports—the dish measures a practical 5 7/16 x 9 5/8 inches (13.8 x 24.4 cm), perfect for serving vegetables at the dinner table. Union Porcelain Works, based in Brooklyn, New York, was pioneering American factory that brought high-quality ceramics to U.S. households, blending functionality with refined aesthetics amid the Gilded Age's opule...
About the Artist
Union Porcelain Works · 1863–1922
Union Porcelain Works, established in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York, in 1863, marked America's breakthrough in hard-paste porcelain production. Architect and builder Thomas Carll Smith (1815–1901) acquired the struggling factory from earlier owners like William Boch & Brothers after it faltered during the Civil War. In 1863, Smith traveled to Europe, studying porcelain techniques at the Manufactu...