Plate
ca.1690
1 of 4
Caption
Plate, ca.1690. Earthenware, 13 3/8 in. (34 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund, 65.4.1. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Title
Plate
Date
ca.1690
Medium
Earthenware
Classification
Dimensions
13 3/8 in. (34 cm)
Signatures
no signature
Inscriptions
no inscriptions
Markings
no markks
Credit Line
Museum Collection Fund
Accession Number
65.4.1
Frequent Art Questions
What can you tell me about these chaps?
Only one is a 'chap' and the other is a true lady. The two are William and Mary, the king and queen of England in the late 17th century. Have you heard of William and Mary style furniture? It's named after themWhy is this called a charger?
In a Western context, a charger is a decorative plate used in formal dinner services. It is placed underneath the plate that's being eaten from to add a splash of color, though no food actually touches it. Although these dishes could have been placed on a table, often they were hung on the wall as decoration (they don't fade like a print might) or on a wooden sideboard to provide color. This charger is decorated with images of King William and Queen Mary who reigned in England 1689 to 1702. The design on this charger would have been copied from a print celebrating the reign of the monarchs.The word comes from the Middle english "chargeour".
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