Two plates with the ‘Los’ (Loose) pattern c. 1925

Curator: These ceramic plates, titled "Two plates with the ‘Los’ (Loose) pattern", come to us from N.V. Plateelbakkerij Ram and date back to approximately 1925. The mixed-media pieces incorporate both stoneware and decorative Art Nouveau elements. What's your initial take? Editor: They're like little psychedelic pools. The colors are unexpectedly muted, giving it a peaceful yet kinda groovy vibe. There's a fascinating tension between the geometric shapes and the free-flowing lines—it makes me wonder about "Los" – maybe representing something unleashed, a rebellion against stricter designs? Curator: The "Los" designation indeed hints at a departure. One observes a conscious application of abstraction, typical of the period, yet handled with noticeable artistic liberty. Note the pastel palette—lavender, chartreuse, ochre—contained within dark outlines, constructing form and simultaneously deconstructing expected decorative norms. Editor: It almost feels like peering into someone’s dream journal. Do you see how some shapes look vaguely organic, like stylized jellyfish floating in a surreal sea? I wonder if the artist was dabbling in automatic drawing techniques. Also, there's the small scale—it brings an intimacy and domesticity. It's art made for everyday moments. Curator: The repetitive use of curving lines directs the viewer's eye inward. This draws emphasis towards the focal point—or, rather, the absence of a true focal point. The composition lacks hierarchical arrangement, flattening the visual space and suggesting egalitarian surface treatment common within post-structuralist design manifestos. Editor: See those little star-like specks? They feel whimsically tossed in, lending levity, disrupting pure formalism. The whole design almost suggests a momentary pause, like capturing something that's just fallen and exploded across the ceramic surface. What a delight! I'm happy now. Curator: Indeed, the seemingly simple design belies the nuanced dialogue between intention and execution—a quiet disruption on functional objects. Editor: Agreed. They make you ponder and smile – what more could you ask for from a plate?