Artwork
Nine dessert plates

Nine dessert plates is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The object is a circular, white ceramic plate featuring a decorative central motif.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work shows a group of nine dessert plates arranged as a still life, decorated with floral motifs. Such imagery carries associations of abundance and refinement typical of eighteenth-century decorative arts. The piece is catalogued as an anonymous painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, part of the Robert Lehman Collection, and dates to 1769.
History & Provenance
Titled Nine dessert plates, this anonymous painting was created in 1769 and depicts floral decoration. It was formerly owned by Robert Lehman before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The available records do not list a specific accession number or detail any public exhibition history.
Overview
The object is a circular, white ceramic plate featuring a decorative central motif. Around the rim the surface is textured, resembling a woven or basket‑like pattern. The interior displays a painted arrangement of flowers in vivid purples, blues and oranges, flanked by two large green leaves, with small butterflies and insects scattered throughout the design.
Technique & Style
The plate’s surface was hand‑painted using opaque pigments applied in flat, saturated washes. The brushwork is straightforward, yielding crisp outlines and uniform color fields. The rim’s raised texture was likely created by hand‑building or a slip‑trailing technique, giving the edge a basket‑like appearance that contrasts with the smooth central glaze.
Context
Such decorative plates were commonly produced for everyday use or as ornamental pieces in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when floral motifs were popular in domestic ceramics. The combination of painted flora and textured rims reflects a trend toward integrating pictorial decoration with tactile surface treatment in household wares.
Legacy
While not a singularly celebrated work, the plate exemplifies the broader tradition of painted ceramic tableware that blends functional objects with artistic embellishment. Its design continues to inform contemporary ceramic artists who explore the dialogue between surface texture and painted narrative motifs.
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