Dish
1793–1807
Medium
Pewter
Dimensions
H. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm); Diam. 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm)
Classification
Dish
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph France, 1943
Accession Number
43.162.1
Art Historical Context
This elegant pewter dish, crafted by Richard Austin between 1793 and 1807, exemplifies the fine metalwork of early American artisans. Austin, a skilled pewterer based in Philadelphia, produced high-quality domestic wares during the Federal period, a time when the young United States embraced neoclassical styles inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Measuring a generous 13½ inches in diameter and just ⅞ inch high, this shallow, wide dish was likely used for serving fruits, breads, or pastries at the dinner table, blending functionality with subtle refinement. Pewter, an alloy of tin, antimony, ...