Othello Plaque

Seen as exotic, Islamic-style decorative motifs enjoyed great popularity in the United States in the 1880s, and William Shakespeare’s play Othello offered a famous example of a Moorish subject. Created by Rookwood Pottery, one of the earliest art pottery makers in the United States, this rare plaque may have been commissioned to commemorate a local production of the play. Alternatively, it might reflect the well-described popularity of Shakespeare in 19th-century America. The designer evoked the main character’s Moorish origins by inscribing his name in pseudo-Arabic script and using concentric bands of stylized foliate and calligraphic motifs reminiscent of Islamic architectural decoration.