Artwork

farfurie

farfurie, by Unknown, 1870
farfurie, by Unknown, 1870

farfurie is a print by the Impressionist artist Unknown. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Romanian Peasant Museum. The object is a circular ceramic plate featuring a modest decorative scheme.

About this work

Inside, there’s a wreath shape made of more leaves, and in the center, the year "1870" is written in a simple, bold style.

This is a round plate with a simple design. The rim has a dark border with a pattern of leafy branches. Inside, there’s a wreath shape made of more leaves, and in the center, the year "1870" is written in a simple, bold style.

The plate looks handmade, with a slightly uneven edge and a rough texture. It’s mostly light in color, with dark blue or black lines for the details.

If you like this kind of everyday object, check out the Museum of Ethnography for more examples.

Overview

The object is a circular ceramic plate featuring a modest decorative scheme. A darkened rim encircles the edge, adorned with a repeating motif of stylized leafy branches. Within the central field a wreath of similar foliage frames the inscription of the year 1870, rendered in a plain, bold typeface. The overall palette is light, contrasted by dark blue or black linear details.

Subject & Meaning

The decorative program centers on vegetal motifs, a common symbolic reference to growth and abundance in domestic wares. The wreath, a closed loop of leaves, may signify continuity or protection, while the prominent dating of 1870 anchors the piece within a specific historical moment, possibly indicating the year of manufacture or a commemorative purpose.

Technique & Style

The plate exhibits characteristics of hand‑crafted production: the rim shows slight irregularities, and the surface bears a modestly rough texture, suggesting manual shaping and firing. The design is executed with linear incisions or painted lines in a dark pigment, likely cobalt or iron oxide, applied over a light‑colored slip, typical of utilitarian ceramics of the period.

History & Provenance

The sole dated element, the year 1870, provides a chronological anchor, placing the plate in the late nineteenth century. No further provenance information is supplied, but the object’s material and decorative traits align with regional folk pottery traditions prevalent in Europe and North America during that era.

Context

Such plates were commonly used in everyday household settings, serving both functional and modestly decorative roles. The emphasis on simple vegetal ornamentation reflects a vernacular aesthetic that prioritized practicality while allowing for personal or regional expression through modest artistic embellishment.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Romanian Peasant Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.