Plate

Art Historical Context

This elegant hard-paste porcelain plate was produced around 1765 by the Zurich Pottery and Porcelain Factory, with designs attributed to Swiss artist and poet Salomon Gessner. Created during a period when European manufactories were mastering the challenging technique of true porcelain—previously dominated by Chinese and Meissen makers—the piece reflects Switzerland’s brief but ambitious entry into this luxury trade. Its modest scale and refined surface highlight the factory’s focus on intimate, high-quality tablewares for an emerging middle-class and aristocratic market. The plate’s central ...