Plate
1792
Medium
Earthenware (creamware)
Dimensions
1.8 × 24.8 × 24.1 cm (7/8 × 9 3/4 × 9 1/2 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
216917
Art Historical Context
This delicate plate, crafted in 1792 from earthenware known as creamware, showcases the refined ceramics of late 18th-century Europe With dimensions of just under 10 inches across and a slim profile, it served as everyday tableware, blending functionality with subtle elegance. Housed in the Art Institute Chicago's Department of Applied Arts of Europe this anonymous work highlights the period's focus on accessible luxury in domestic objects. Creamware, pioneered in England around the 1760s, revolutionized pottery by achieving a smooth, cream-toned lead glaze over a fine clay body—rivaling pric...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...