Melkkan 1903

This is a milk jug, made by N.V. Haagsche Plateelfabriek Rozenburg. The jug is made from porcelain, which is refined and strong, yet also delicate and breakable. This combination of qualities lends itself well to tableware. Notice the smooth, white surface decorated with sinuous floral patterns. The designs were applied by highly skilled painters, directly onto the ceramic body. These stylized motifs showcase the Art Nouveau aesthetic that was popular at the turn of the century. Pieces like this represent the blurring of boundaries between art and industry. Rozenburg was a factory, but it produced luxury objects. This means there was a division of labor in the factory, with some workers preparing materials, others shaping the clay, and others painting the decoration. The decoration gives a sense of artistic freedom, belying the factory conditions in which it was produced. This milk jug allows us to appreciate not just the final design, but the many hands and processes involved in its creation, and how these reflect broader social and economic changes.