Plate

The colors on this plate resulted from the combination of metallic oxides of manganese, cobalt, copper, iron, and antimony prepared as liquid slip. These were sponged onto the body of the plate and covered with a clear lead glaze. When the plate was fired, the colors bled together to achieve a tortoiseshell effect. By 1760 Americans were importing a range of fashionable tortoiseshell dining wares; these remained popular throughout the third quarter of the 18th century.