Plate 1680 - 1720

This blue and white plate was made by De Dubbelde Schenkkan, though the exact date of its manufacture is unknown. The dense, all-over floral decoration in cobalt blue is typical of ceramics produced for export to Europe. The Dutch East India Company was a major importer of Chinese porcelain in the 17th and 18th centuries. Eager to meet the growing demand, Dutch potters in Delft and other cities began to imitate Chinese porcelain. Floral motifs and blue-and-white color schemes became particularly popular as they appealed to European tastes. Objects like this one were luxury commodities that speak to the complex relationship between global trade, artistic production, and consumer culture. To understand the social and economic forces that shaped this plate, scholars consult trade records, period inventories, and archaeological findings. The story of art is always contingent on broader social and institutional contexts.