Plate thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Plate

1780-1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This plate is of a type that was marketed as a dessert plate, and so was intended for eating stewed or fresh fruit. Dessert plates often had decorative moulded edgings and shaped rims or pierced borders, and were generally lighter and more decorative than dinner plates. However, tablewares of the same design could be used for serving both savoury and sweet courses, even in some of the most elaborate services. The distinction between the two may therefore not be as rigid as often thought. Soup and dinner plates were usually set out before the start of the meal at the time that this one was made, and clean plates were brought by servants when the dessert was served.

Materials & Making
The plate is made of cream ware, a type of glazed earthenware made by combining white-firing clays and calcined flint. Cream ware is hygienic, hard-wearing and heat resistant, making it highly suitable for tablewares.

Place
The plate was made in Staffordshire but transfer-printed for Wedgwood in Liverpool. This arrangement probably came about because large quantities of his pottery were exported via Liverpool. Wedgwood's factory was on the banks of the Grand Trunk Canal, which connected the Staffordshire Potteries to the ports of Liverpool and Hull.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Creamware (Queen's ware), transfer-printed in black enamel
Brief description
Wedgwood plate with transfer printed design, Creamware, 1780-1790
Physical description
Plate of cream-coloured earthenware, circular. Transfer-printed in the middle and round the wavy rim with groups of birds resembling pheasants.
Dimensions
  • Width: 22.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
'WEDGWOOD' and a circle (Impressed)
Gallery label
  • British Galleries: Josiah Wedgwood's creamware or 'Queen's ware' was a new refinement of an existing earthenware. It was the height of fashion from the 1760s, although not as expensive as porcelain.(27/03/2003)
  • Plate Made at the factory of Josiah Wedgwood, Staffordshire, 1770-1800 Marks: "WEDGWOOD" and a circle, impressed Lead-glazed earthenware with transfer-printed decoration 2302-1901(23/05/2008)
Credit line
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street
Object history
Made at Josiah Wedgwood's factory, Etruria, Staffordshire.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This plate is of a type that was marketed as a dessert plate, and so was intended for eating stewed or fresh fruit. Dessert plates often had decorative moulded edgings and shaped rims or pierced borders, and were generally lighter and more decorative than dinner plates. However, tablewares of the same design could be used for serving both savoury and sweet courses, even in some of the most elaborate services. The distinction between the two may therefore not be as rigid as often thought. Soup and dinner plates were usually set out before the start of the meal at the time that this one was made, and clean plates were brought by servants when the dessert was served.

Materials & Making
The plate is made of cream ware, a type of glazed earthenware made by combining white-firing clays and calcined flint. Cream ware is hygienic, hard-wearing and heat resistant, making it highly suitable for tablewares.

Place
The plate was made in Staffordshire but transfer-printed for Wedgwood in Liverpool. This arrangement probably came about because large quantities of his pottery were exported via Liverpool. Wedgwood's factory was on the banks of the Grand Trunk Canal, which connected the Staffordshire Potteries to the ports of Liverpool and Hull.
Collection
Accession number
2302-1901

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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