Othello Plaque
J. C. Meyenberg
1884
Medium
Earthenware and glaze
Dimensions
Diam.: 40.6 cm (15 1/4 in.)
Classification
plaque (flat object)
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
145205
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Seen as exotic, Islamic-style decorative motifs enjoyed great popularity in the United States in the 1880s, and William Shakespeare’s play Othello offered a famous example of a Moorish subject. Created by Rookwood Pottery, one of the earliest art pottery makers in the United States, this rare plaque may have been commissioned to commemorate a local production of the play. Alternatively, it might reflect the well-described popularity of Shakespeare in 19th-century America. The designer evoked the...