Paper plates : she's a dish
Artist's Book
1993 (published)
1993 (published)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This work consists of six paper plates based on fourteenth and fifteenth century dishes known as 'Belle Donne' or 'Coppe Amatorie' depicting portraits of women. The poetic text surrounding the portraits on these paper plates resemble the painted scrolls on the original plates which indicated the woman's name followed or preceded by the adjective 'bella'.
In a descriptive sheet accompanying the paper plates, the artist explains: 'The invented text describes the plates, which were not realistic but idealized portraits or caricatures of the women. The portraits reflect the styles of dress influenced by court life in each area, and the styles of local artists. These plates were not destined for daily use - they were decorative dishes presented on special occasions such as courtship, engagement and marriage.'
The ceramicists copied the images from available etchings, Lorenz returning them to print form again in the form of these paper plates. The plates are collographs made from spaghetti, sealed with vinyl glue and then inked in six colours. The book is presented in a narrow wooden crate suitable for shipping glass or china with slats on both sides through which the faces on the plates can be seen. The six plates are slotted into two sets of triptychs resembling wooden cupboards. The individual plates each have a handmade triangular brass hook which allows them to be displayed individually on a wall.
Each of the six plates incorporates one of the following captions: "She is round. She is idealized. She hangs on the wall. She is not to be used. She is not disposable. She's a dish".
One of the plates is based on a majolica plate currently on display in Room 17 at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The plate (Museum number: C.2221-1910) is described as 'Dish. Perhaps by the 'In Castel Durante' painter, c.1525'.
In a descriptive sheet accompanying the paper plates, the artist explains: 'The invented text describes the plates, which were not realistic but idealized portraits or caricatures of the women. The portraits reflect the styles of dress influenced by court life in each area, and the styles of local artists. These plates were not destined for daily use - they were decorative dishes presented on special occasions such as courtship, engagement and marriage.'
The ceramicists copied the images from available etchings, Lorenz returning them to print form again in the form of these paper plates. The plates are collographs made from spaghetti, sealed with vinyl glue and then inked in six colours. The book is presented in a narrow wooden crate suitable for shipping glass or china with slats on both sides through which the faces on the plates can be seen. The six plates are slotted into two sets of triptychs resembling wooden cupboards. The individual plates each have a handmade triangular brass hook which allows them to be displayed individually on a wall.
Each of the six plates incorporates one of the following captions: "She is round. She is idealized. She hangs on the wall. She is not to be used. She is not disposable. She's a dish".
One of the plates is based on a majolica plate currently on display in Room 17 at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The plate (Museum number: C.2221-1910) is described as 'Dish. Perhaps by the 'In Castel Durante' painter, c.1525'.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Paper plates : she's a dish (assigned by artist) |
Materials and techniques | Printed book, collographs, wood, paper |
Brief description | Artist's book, 'Paper plates : she's a dish', by Angela Lorenz, Bologna, 1993 |
Physical description | Artist's book in a narrow wooden crate suitable for shipping glass or china, with portraits of women peeking through the slats on both sides. A yellow cord with tassle hangs down over one facade. The top edge of the crate is hinged, and upon opening it, the cord may be pulled to extract the "menu" or colophon. The rest of the work consists of six round collagraphs which slot into two sets of paper tryptics resembling wooden cupboards. The brown frames of the cupboard are also collagraphs. The six plates may be removed from their tryptics, revealing a handmade triangular brass hook at the top of each, which allows the plates to be displayed individually on a wall Collagraphs are relief prints made using spaghetti. The colophon was printed by Stamperia Valdonega in Verona, Italy, on archival paper produced by Cartiere Fedrigoni. |
Dimensions |
|
Summary | This work consists of six paper plates based on fourteenth and fifteenth century dishes known as 'Belle Donne' or 'Coppe Amatorie' depicting portraits of women. The poetic text surrounding the portraits on these paper plates resemble the painted scrolls on the original plates which indicated the woman's name followed or preceded by the adjective 'bella'. In a descriptive sheet accompanying the paper plates, the artist explains: 'The invented text describes the plates, which were not realistic but idealized portraits or caricatures of the women. The portraits reflect the styles of dress influenced by court life in each area, and the styles of local artists. These plates were not destined for daily use - they were decorative dishes presented on special occasions such as courtship, engagement and marriage.' The ceramicists copied the images from available etchings, Lorenz returning them to print form again in the form of these paper plates. The plates are collographs made from spaghetti, sealed with vinyl glue and then inked in six colours. The book is presented in a narrow wooden crate suitable for shipping glass or china with slats on both sides through which the faces on the plates can be seen. The six plates are slotted into two sets of triptychs resembling wooden cupboards. The individual plates each have a handmade triangular brass hook which allows them to be displayed individually on a wall. Each of the six plates incorporates one of the following captions: "She is round. She is idealized. She hangs on the wall. She is not to be used. She is not disposable. She's a dish". One of the plates is based on a majolica plate currently on display in Room 17 at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The plate (Museum number: C.2221-1910) is described as 'Dish. Perhaps by the 'In Castel Durante' painter, c.1525'. |
Other number | X930215 - NAL Pressmark |
Collection | |
Library number | 38041994104099 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | April 2, 2014 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSON