Plate with "Disheveled Birds" (One of Thirteen)
ca. 1758–1769
Medium
ceramics
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Forsyth Wickes
Accession Number
1962-218-10
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's ceramics collection, this elegant plate from the Chelsea Por Manufactory—titled *Plate with "Dishe Birds" (One of)*—dates to around 1758–1769. Produced one of England's pioneering porcelain factories (active 1745–4), it exemplifies the soft-paste porcelain that fueled the 18th-century "porcelain mania" among British elites. Gifted by Forsyth Wickes, this piece is part of a rare set, highlighting the manufactory's skill in creating luxurious tableware inspired by Chinese and Meissen models. Chelsea's artisans mastered intricate techniques like m...