Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Visit
  • Exhibitions & Events
  • Art & Design
  • Search

Visit Main Menu Block

  • Hours & Admission
  • Accessibility & Amenities
  • Tours & Group Visits
  • Visitor Guidelines

Exhibitions and Events Main Menu Block

  • Exhibitions
  • Events

Art and Design Main Menu Block

  • The Collection
  • Projects & Publications
  • Past Exhibitions

Footer Main

  • Become a Member
  • Give
  • Who We Are
  • Opportunities
  • Rent the Museum

German, Figural Standing Salt, 1740-1760. Walter H. Kimball Fund.

Introduction

Trading Earth

Ceramics, Commodities, and Commerce
April 9, 2022 - January 12, 2025

Trading Earth: Ceramics, Commodities, and Commerce

Drawing on centuries of works from across the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa, this exhibition focuses on global trade and ceramic objects made to store, serve, or consume staples and luxury commodities grown in soil or extracted from the earth. Foodstuffs such as tea, sugar, coffee, and spices, along with tobacco and alcohol, were marketed via vast international trade routes, resulting in the creation, dissemination, appropriation, and refinement of ceramic technique, form, and ornament, with accompanying objects from materials such as silver. The cycles of cultivation, production, trade, and consumption revealed across more than 200 works also illustrate global systems of oppression and privilege, including reliance on enslaved and other exploitative labor and lasting damage to communities and the natural world.

Elizabeth A. Williams, PhD David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Arts and Design

RISD Museum is supported by a grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, through an appropriation by the Rhode Island General Assembly and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and with the generous partnership of the Rhode Island School of Design, its Board of Trustees, and Museum Governors.

For a complete checklist, email curatorial@risd.edu.

Read the digital publication here.

Selected Objects

Edward Medlycott

Blackjack Tankard, ca. 1740

French

Travelling Chocolate Set, ca. 1870

Hester Bateman

Caster Set, 1782-1783

Chinese export, China

Trencher Salt, 1790-1800

Chinese export, China

Trencher Salt, 1790-1800

Japanese

Bizen Ware Tea Caddy, 1800s

German, Berlin

Sugar Basket, 1700s

Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, manufacturer

Tureen with Cover and Stand, 1805-1815

Jan Van Duijn, designer

Tea Caddy, ca. 1760

William Swan

Strainer, ca. 1745

George Brasier

Wine Funnel, 1785-1786

Chinese, China

Coffeepot, 1800

English, Whieldon

Teapot, ca. 1760

French

Wine Taster, 1838-1919

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Saucer, ca. 1760

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Sugar Bowl and Cover, ca. 1760

Samuel Wood

Caster, 1748-1749

Samuel Wood

Caster, 1748-1749

Samuel Wood

Caster, 1748-1749

American

Hiram Wheaton & Sons Beer Bottle, 1875

Pakistani

Incense Burner, late 1800s

Chinese export, China

Batavia Ware Bowl with Cover, ca. 1740

Zulu South African, South Africa

Beer Fermentation Vessel, 1900s

German

Chocolate Pot, ca. 1780

German Silesian

Wine Glass, 1750-1760

English, London probably

Tumbler with Carrying Case and Stamp, ca. 1800-1810

Dutch, Netherlands

Caddy Spoon, 1820

English

Teapot, 1800s

Johann Joachim Kändler, designer

Turkish Woman with Sugar Basket, ca. 1745

Johann Joachim Kändler, designer

Turkish Man with Sugar Basket, ca. 1745

Persian

Samovar, 1800s

German, Cologne

Bottle, ca. 1570

Johann Joachim Kändler, modeler

The Cherry Pickers, 1753 - 1765

Apache Native North American

Tobacco Pouch, ca. 1900

Gien Faience Factory, manufacturer

Humidor, ca. 1865 -1870

Indian, India

Wine Cup of Emperor Jahangir, 1612-1613

German, Saxony

Stein, 1716

Chinese export, China

Batavia Ware Saucer, ca. 1720

Chinese export, China

Batavia Ware Teacup, ca. 1720

South American, South America

Mate Cup with Bombilla, 1800s

F. Ducot

Chocolate Pot, 1830-1840

Italian

Drug Jar (Albarello), 1500 - 1550

American

Pie Crimper or Jagging Wheel, 1773

Enoch Wood and Sons, manufacturer

Cape Coast Castle Platter, ca. 1840

Pierre Stephan, modeler

Autumn, 1795 - 1810

English

Mochaware Teapot, late 1700s-early 1800s

English, Leeds

Creamware Sweetmeat Dish, ca. 1770 - 1780

English, Leeds

Creamware Tray, ca. 1770 - 1780

Chinese export, China

Tureen Stand, late 1800s

Chinese export, China

Tureen with Cover, late 1800s

Worcester Porcelain Company

Sugar Bowl, ca. 1770

Turkish

Tankard, 1500s-1600s

American, Rhode Island

Jug, 1800s

English

Pearlware Mug, late 1700s

Johann Peter Melchior, modeler

Map Seller and Two Children, ca. 1775

German, Rhenish

Mug, ca. 1520-1550

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Cup, ca. 1760

German, Germany

"Wildman" Stove Tile, ca. 1480

Josiah Wedgwood & Sons

Creamware Chestnut Basket, 1770-1780

Chinese export, China

Chocolate Pot, 1800

English, Staffordshire

Jug, ca. 1780

Boston and Sandwich Glass Company

Salt, 1830-1845

German, Westerwald

Figural Standing Salt, 1740-1760

English, Whieldon

Tortoiseshell Ware Teapot, ca. 1750 - 1765

Indian

Coffeepot, 1800s

Japanese

Wine Cup (Sakazuki), ca. 1710

American

Nutmeg Grater, 1800s

English

Tankard, 1700s

Chinese

Incense Burner, 1368-1644

Chinese

Water Pipe, 1800s

Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, manufacturer

Roger Williams Jug, 1886

Chinese

Tea Caddy, 1800s

English, England, Whieldon in style

Creamware Sweetmeat Dish, ca. 1765-1770

English, Whieldon

Tortoiseshell Ware Tea Bowl and Saucer, ca. 1750 - 1765

English, Staffordshire

Mochaware Mustard Pot, ca. 1770-1780

Nehemiah Dodge

Sugar Tongs, ca. 1824

Samuel Vernon

Tankard, ca. 1720

Japanese, Kyoto

Water Jar, 1600s

Persian Iranian

Ewer, 1200s

American, Pennsylvania

Toleware Coffeepot, ca. 1825

Korean

Wine Cup on Pedestal, 936-1392

German, Kreussen

Tankard, 1650-1700

English

Nutmeg Grater, 1800-1850

American, Pennsylvania

Toleware Coffeepot, ca. 1840

American

Bottle, late 1700s-early 1800s

Enoch Wood and Sons

Sauceboat, ca. 1840

Henry L. Webster

Salt Spoon, ca. 1831-1841

Henry L. Webster

Salt Spoon, ca. 1831-1841

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Saucer, ca. 1760

German, Saxony

Screw-Top Bottle, ca. 1650-1700

Persian Iranian

Hookah Base, late 1400s - early 1500s

Korean

Ewer, 936-1392

French

Puzzle Jug, 1800s

American

Kenyon Smith & Co. Jug, ca. 1890

German

Tankard, 1600s

Canon August Ernst Otto von dem Busch of Hildesheim, decorator

Bouillon Cup with Lid, ca. 1760

Chinese export

Sugar Bowl, ca. 1800

German

Incense Burner, ca. 1525

Chinese export

Chocolate Pot, ca. 1750

Italian, Urbino

Jug, 1500s

William Gamble

Caudle Cup, 1715-1716

Chinese export, China

Batavia Ware Vase, ca. 1740

Joseph Smith

Chocolate Pot, 1736-1737

English, Staffordshire

Mug, 1708

Chinese export, China

Sugar Bowl, ca. 1750

American, New England

Jug, early 1800s

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Cup, early 1800s

Johann Joachim Kändler, modeler

Teapot, 1735 - 1737

Italian

Youth Holding a Pipe, ca. 1770

American, Bennington, Vermont

Creamer, ca. 1850

Chinese export, China

Batavia Ware Bowl, ca. 1740

English, Whieldon

Teapot, ca. 1760

Chinese

Snuff Bottle, 1800s

English, Whieldon

Punch Pot, ca. 1760-1770

Johann Martin Satzger

Traveling Set with Silverware, 1747-1749

Jonathan Clarke

Teapot, ca. 1760

Johann Friedrich Eberlein, modeler

Incense Burner in the Form of a Chinese Man, ca. 1735

Chinese export

Coffeepot, ca. 1750

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Coffeepot with Cover, ca. 1760

Malaysian or Sumatran

Tobacco Box, 1800s - 1900s

Syrian

Lamp, 1200s

American, Bennington Vermont

Snuff-Taker Toby Teapot, mid 1800s

Johann Wilhelm Lanz, modeler

Man Breaking Eggs, ca. 1757-1759

John Shorthose

Mochaware Coffeepot, ca. 1820

German, Nuremberg

Pitcher, ca. 1575

German

Mug, 1600s

Italian

Salt Dish, 1600s - 1700s

English, Leeds

Creamware Sauceboat, ca. 1800

Sächsische Porzellanmanufaktur Dresden

Monteith, ca. 1875

Italian, Deruta

Plate with Egg Cups and Salt Dish, ca. 1600

English, Staffordshire

Teapot, ca. 1760

Indian

Spice Box, mid- to late-1800s

English, Leeds

Creamware Ladle, ca. 1775

Italian

Pestle, 1500s

Chinese export, China

Coffeepot, ca. 1800

William Aitken

Mustard Pot with Spoon, 1908

Chinese export

Punch Bowl, ca. 1800

English, Staffordshire

Double-Spouted Teapot, ca. 1840

Chinese, China

Tea Caddy, ca. 1820

English, Whieldon

Agateware Creamer, 1745-1755

Ōtagaki Rengetsu

Tea Bowl, 1800s

John Tanner

Caster, 1700s

Mexican

Jar, 1700s

English, Whieldon

Sauceboat, ca. 1760

English, Jackfield

Coffeepot, 1760-1765

Andreas Blytt

Incense Burner, ca. 1795

English, Leeds

Creamware Custard Cup with Cover, ca. 1780

Matthew West

Sauceboat, 1787-1793

English, Staffordshire

Jug, ca. 1780

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Lemon-Shaped Box, 1740 - 1750

Chinese, China

Double-Necked Vessel, 1600s

English, Staffordshire

Coffeepot, mid-1700s

William Greatbach

Creamware Teapot, 1770-1782

Greco-Roman Roman

Lamp, 100 BCE-100 CE

Johann Joachim Kändler, modeler

Harlequin with Goat As Bagpipes, 1736 - 1740

Chelsea Porcelain Factory

Dessert Dish, ca. 1755

Samuel Casey

Silver Creamer, ca. 1750

Meissen Porcelain Manufactory

Putto Holding Globe, 1745 - 1750

French

Mortar, 1500s

Hester Bateman

Tea Caddy, 1708-1794

English, Coleport

Pastile Burner in the Form of a Cottage, early 1800s

American South American

Drinking Straw with Filter (Bombilla), 1800s

Pan Painter

Oil Flask (Lekythos), ca. 480 BCE

English

Pratt Ware Money Box, ca. 1800 - 1820

Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, manufacturer

Pudding or Jelly Mold, early 1800s

Greek, Attica

Drinking Cup (Kylix), 525-500 BCE

Thomas Wallis I

Caster, 1809-1810

English, Whieldon

Tortoiseshell Ware Cream Pitcher, ca. 1750 - 1765

Japanese

Teapot, late 1800s - 1900s

Probably Tetsuge Owingeh (Tesuque Pueblo) or P'ohwhóge Owingeh (San Ildefonso Pueblo) Native North American, New Mexico

Covered Jar, before 1916

More objects +

Exhibition Checklist

Trading Earth : Ceramics, Commodities, and Commerce

April 9, 2022 - January 12, 2025
View Checklist PDF

RISD Museum

  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Instagram
  •  Vimeo
  •  Pinterest
  •  SoundCloud

Footer Main

  • Become a Member
  • Give
  • Who We Are
  • Opportunities
  • Rent the Museum

Footer Secondary

  • Image Request
  • Press Office
  • Rent the Museum
  • Terms of Use