Wandbord t.g.v. de 25-jarige bruiloft van J.R. Tutein Nolthenius en M.A. Cordes 1908

This wall plate was made by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, celebrating 25 years of marriage. It’s green, cream and gold, like a fancy art nouveau cake. The design is very formal and symbolic, but I wonder what it was like to paint? Did he enjoy the ritual of it, the concentration? The surface looks smooth, like it has been glazed, and the palette is quite controlled, but the painterly quality is in the decoration. I can imagine the careful brushstrokes to make the shapes around the edge, the different greens used to create depth. The symmetry gives the piece a sense of calm, but there is also a tension in the geometric shapes. The way the patterns push against the circle's edge reminds me of the work of artists like Hilma af Klint, who explored abstraction and symbolism in her paintings. Ultimately, Cachet's wall plate invites us to reflect on marriage, time, and the beauty of handmade objects. It reminds us that art can be found in the everyday, and that even the most functional object can be a source of joy and inspiration.