Plate
Unknown Artist
1740–60
Medium
Stoneware
Dimensions
13 x 11 1/8 in. (33 x 28.3 cm)
Classification
Plate
Culture
British (American market)
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Russell S. Carter, 1946
Accession Number
46.64.14
Art Historical Context
This elegant stoneware plate, crafted between 1740 and 1760 by an unknown British artisan, exemplifies the transatlantic trade that shaped colonial American households. Measuring 13 x 11⅛ inches, its oval shape and sturdy form made it ideal for serving dishes at the dinner table. Produced in Britain specifically for the American market, reflects the colonies' heavy reliance on imported ceramics during a time when local pottery production was limited. Stoneware, fired at high temperatures to create a dense, non-porous body, was prized for its durability and resistance to cracking—perfect for e...