A deep blue ceramic platter with a central illustration of a large ship, framed by a border of seashells, coral, and marine motifs.
A deep blue ceramic platter with a central illustration of a large ship, framed by a border of seashells, coral, and marine motifs.
A oval shaped ceramic platter with dark blue glaze and detailed illustrations of ships and boats on water, framed by seashells and floral motifs.
A close up of a blue ceramic illustration depicting a large ship on rough waters under a cloudy sky with text, "Cape Coast Castle on the Gold Coast, Africa"
The underside of a white, oval-shaped porcelain dish with a slightly raised rim, with visible scuffs, discoloration, and a red identification number "35.195" at the center.
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Enoch Wood and Sons

Cape Coast Castle Platter
Now On View

Maker

Enoch Wood and Sons (English, 1818-1846), manufacturer

Title

Cape Coast Castle Platter

Year

ca. 1840

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

transfer-printed earthenware

Geography

Place Made: Burslem

Dimensions

42.2 x 32.7 cm (16 5/8 x 12 7/8 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Marks: Title just below scene; impressed on back:Wood.

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Edward B. Aldrich in memory of Lora E. Aldrich

Object Number

35.195

Type

Exhibition History

Trading Earth
Ceramics, Commodities, and Commerce
Apr 09, 2022 – Jul 20, 2025

Label copy

The large blue and white platter depicts a large three-masted ship and smaller ships before a castle-like structure. The activity of loading the large merchant vessel with goods is seemingly taking place, but here the cargo is that of human beings. Originally built as trade post for commodities, Cape Coast Castle in West Africa (now Ghana) became a center of the transatlantic slave trade in the 1700s.

Raid the Icebox Now with Paul Scott
New American Scenery
Sep 13, 2019 – Dec 30, 2021

Image use

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Enoch Wood and Sons (English, 1818-1846), manufacturer
Cape Coast Castle Platter, ca. 1840
Earthenware with transfer print and glaze
42.2 x 32.7 cm (16 5/8 x 12 7/8 inches)
Gift of Edward B. Aldrich in memory of Lora E. Aldrich 35.195

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