Platter
Unknown Artist
1750–70
Medium
Stoneware
Dimensions
10 1/8 x 8 in. (25.7 x 20.3 cm)
Classification
Platter
Culture
British (American market)
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1938
Accession Number
38.165.12
Art Historical Context
This elegant stoneware platter, crafted by an unknown British artist between 1750 and 1770, exemplifies the refined ceramics exported to the American colonies. Measuring 10 1/8 x 8 inches, its compact oval form was ideal for serving meats, breads, or pastries colonial tables. Stoneware, a durable pottery fired at high temperatures and often salt-glazed for a smooth, practical surface, was prized for its resistance to cracking and staining—perfect for everyday use in households lacking advanced local kilns. Produced in Britain specifically for the American market, the platter reflects the robu...