Bord, beschilderd met slingers waaraan boeketten hangen c. 1778 - 1782

This plate, decorated with painted garlands and bouquets, comes from Loosdrecht. Though undated, its delicate floral motifs speak to the cultural aesthetics of its time. Consider the artistry involved. The choice of delicate floral patterns, may be viewed as feminine. How does this affect our reading of its place in the domestic sphere? The plate gives us a sense of how gendered expectations were subtly woven into everyday objects. The arrangement of garlands and flowers invite us to reflect on our relationship with nature. What does it mean to bring the outside in? How does this porcelain, transform the personal and shared act of dining? In its time, such refinement was only available to those with the means. As you stand here, consider what this might say about the cultural and economic disparities of the past. This plate is a looking glass into a world where art, nature, and social status were intimately entwined.