Plate c. 1778 - 1782

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this exquisite earthenware plate, made around 1778 to 1782 by the Loosdrecht manufactory. Editor: It's darling! Such delicate mauve against that creamy white. The gold trim gives it such a dreamy, nostalgic vibe. If plates could whisper, this one would be telling tales of elegant tea parties and polite gossip. Curator: The Rococo influence is quite apparent here. We see it in the frivolous asymmetry, the whimsical curves of the rim, and the overall pursuit of elegance and pleasure. Editor: Absolutely, that central scene feels lifted straight from a Watteau painting... but shrunk down for a miniature stage! It has such charm. Are those children playing amongst those ruins? What's the story here? Curator: Genre paintings were often miniaturized and placed on domestic items such as this, with rural leisure becoming increasingly popular, particularly for those who purchased decorative works such as this. Plates such as this offer an intriguing reflection of the aristocratic and upwardly-mobile Dutch domestic space. Editor: The colors… that soft mauve, it is just lovely, especially paired with that thin line of gold. I am not really thinking about class while looking at this. It just feels soothing. Does that sound strange? Curator: Not at all. Porcelain, particularly pieces like this, presented idealized and untroubled scenes for consumers to project their aspirations and values onto. Editor: So, maybe that's what I'm picking up. I am just ready to aspire! Well, I've got a yearning now for a quiet afternoon and tiny cakes, hopefully served on something almost exactly like this. What a delicious little object. Curator: It really captures a unique perspective on eighteenth-century Dutch society—an interesting moment captured within a domestic item. Editor: Definitely something to muse about over tea... maybe even ON tea! Cheerio!