The dates inscribed on these two plates encompass the two decades when the "Chinese Figure" motif enjoyed its greatest popularity. This era saw the rapid growth of the merchant class, an upwardly mobile group whose mounting fortunes were tied to England’s expanding global power. They followed the tastes of the Court, but had less money than the aristocracy to furnish their homes. "Chinese Figure" plates were highly popular because they evoked the captivating look of imported porcelain but were made from local clays at far less expense. Examples with dates and initials usually commemorated marriages and were either hung on a wall from small holes in the foot rims or centrally displayed on shelves.