Schotel, beschilderd met korenbloemen c. 1784

This plate, decorated with cornflowers, was produced by the Loosdrecht manufactory. These types of porcelain plates were status symbols, used within the confines of wealthy, private homes. The cornflower motif is more than just decorative; these flowers were seen as symbols of delicacy and modesty, traits often associated with the feminine ideal of the time. When we consider that women were often the primary users and caretakers of these domestic objects, the symbolism becomes even more poignant. The flowers’ fragility mirrors the expectations placed on women. Yet there's a quiet strength in its creation, in the act of taking raw material and transforming it into something of beauty and utility. It embodies a subtle act of defiance, a quiet claiming of space and expression within a world of imposed limitations.