Plate
c. 1820
Medium
Porcelain polychrome enamels and gilding
Dimensions
Diam.: 21.6 cm (8 1/2 in.)
Classification
plate (general, dish)
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
15012
Art Historical Context
This elegant plate, created around 1820 by Wedgwood Manufactory, represents the refined luxury of early 19th-century European tableware. Produced in porcelain and decorated with vibrant polychrome enamels and gilding, its modest 8½-inch diameter suggests it once belonged to an elaborate dinner service or served as a decorative accent in a well-appointed home. The Wedgwood name evokes a legacy of ceramic excellence that combined industrial precision with artistic flair. The application of multiple enamel colors fired onto the surface allowed for lively, lasting patterns, while the added gildin...
About the Artist
Wedgwood Manufactory
Wedgwood Manufactory, founded on 1 May 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood in Burslem, Staffordshire, England, revolutionized ceramics during the Industrial Revolution. Born into a family of potters, Josiah apprenticed under his elder brother Thomas at the Churchyard Works from age 14, mastering traditional techniques before partnering with Thomas Whieldon from 1754 to 1759, where he honed innovative glazes. ...