Wedgwood Bicentennial Plate Commemorating Boston Tea Party

1976/Staffordshire, England

Josiah Wedgwood and his successors made fine ceramics in Staffordshire, England, beginning in the eighteenth century. They created this special bicentennial plate in the mid-1970s to commemorate two hundred years of American independence. The factory specialized in a stoneware body called jasperware, which combined a colored matte background with contrasting white molded reliefs.

People bought these commemorative plates to display in homes and offices across the United States during the national anniversary celebrations. They were hung on walls or set on plate stands as decorative mementos of the country's historical milestones. Their production eventually concluded as the anniversary period ended and public interest shifted toward other commemorative items.