Dish (One of Six)
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1938-57-657-f
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Dish (One of Six)* hails from the Cozzi Porcelain Factory, pioneering Italian enterprise active in Venice from 1763 1812. Produced around 1770, it exemplifies the factory's early output during a vibrant era of European porcelain innovation. Venice, a hub of artistic and commercial exchange, saw Cozzi challenge established German and French makers like Meissen by developing high-quality soft-paste porcelain for tableware and decorative objects. As part of a matching set of six, this ceramic dish reflects the Rococo taste for refined domestic luxury among 18th-century elites. Porcelain's translucency and durability made it a status symbol, blending artistry with functionality—perfect for lavish dinners. Though details of its decoration remain under study ("Research in Progress"), such pieces often featured intricate gilding, floral motifs, or pastoral scenes, showcasing the factory's technical prowess in molding and firing. Generously bequeathed by collector Erskine Hewitt, this dish now graces the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection. It invites us to appreciate Italy's contributions to global ceramics, bridging Old World craftsmanship with enduring appeal. (198 words)