Platter
ca. 1840–ca. 1854
Medium
Earthenware, transfer-printed
Dimensions
12 7/8 x 9 1/2 in. (32.7 x 24.1 cm)
Classification
Platter
Culture
British (American market)
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914
Accession Number
14.102.93
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant platter, crafted by the British firm William Ridgway & Co. around 1840–1854, exemplifies the height of Staffordshire pottery's influence on American households. Produced specifically for the U.S. market, the 12⅞ × 9½-inch earthenware dish features transfer-printed landscapes, a technique that revolutionized ceramics by allowing intricate designs to be printed from engraved plates onto unglazed clay, then glazed and fired for durability. This method made high-quality decoration affordable, transforming everyday tableware into artistic statements. The vivid landscape motifs—likely ...