Koffiekan 1774 - 1784

The Loosdrecht Koffiekan is a porcelain coffee pot decorated with cobalt oxide underglaze, made in the Netherlands. The pot’s design, a white ground decorated with blue floral motifs, mimics Chinese porcelain, which was highly prized in Europe. In the eighteenth century, the Dutch East India Company played a key role in the trade of Chinese porcelain. Loosdrecht, like many European porcelain producers, sought to emulate the delicate beauty and exoticism of these imported goods, catering to the tastes of a growing merchant class eager to display their wealth and sophistication. This particular Koffiekan tells us about the economic and cultural exchange between Europe and Asia, and the rise of consumer culture in the Netherlands. To better understand these influences, one might consult company records, trade documents, and examples of Chinese export porcelain. In this way, we can explore the social life of art objects, and the historical forces that give them meaning.