What a cracked dish can tell us

A few days ago I showed a beautiful dish, made by Chelsea between 1752 and 1758, on my Instagram page. Many people loved it and hundreds responded - but why is it that an old, cracked and fairly badly potted dish can engender such enthusiasm? Today I am telling more about this very special dish, you can watch it here on YouTube.

Sometimes we can be stunned by superb pieces of art - but sometimes it is a very humble item that moves us: something that barely passed the test of time (and quality control!) and stands before us humbly and, well, cracked. Who made this dish, how, and why is it not symmetrical? How did it survive? And why is it just so beautiful?

You can also find it on my website, with a description of the history. I hope you enjoy it!