Plate

Art Historical Context

This elegant stoneware plate, crafted between 1740 and 1760 by an unknown British artisan, exemplifies the transatlantic trade that shaped colonial American households. Measuring 13 x 11⅛ inches, its oval shape and sturdy form made it ideal for serving dishes at the dinner table. Produced in Britain specifically for the American market, reflects the colonies' heavy reliance on imported ceramics during a time when local pottery production was limited. Stoneware, fired at high temperatures to create a dense, non-porous body, was prized for its durability and resistance to cracking—perfect for everyday use in busy households. British potters, particularly from Staffordshire, perfected salt-glazed stoneware techniques, often featuring molded reliefs or incised designs (though specifics here are undocumented). This plate's presence in The American Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, gifted by Mrs. Russell S. Carter in 1946, underscores its role as a snapshot of 18th-century material culture. As a humble yet essential object, it highlights the cultural exchange between Britain and its American colonies, blending functionality with subtle craftsmanship. Visitors can imagine it gracing a merchant's table, carrying foods from across the Atlantic and embodying the era's global connections.