Chestnut vase with a cityscape and bouquets c. 1778

This chestnut vase, embellished with delicate cityscapes and bouquets, was crafted by Doornik, though the exact date remains unknown. Imagine the hands that shaped this porcelain, and the world in which it was conceived. The cityscape depicted provides a glimpse into the world of its time, reflecting the socio-economic structures and power dynamics inherent in urban development. Who had access to these idealized urban spaces? How did class and gender shape experiences within these cityscapes? The vase, beyond its aesthetic appeal, becomes a canvas onto which stories of access, privilege, and social stratification are painted. Reflect on the untold narratives embedded within its delicate form. In its beauty, the vase prompts us to consider whose stories are celebrated and whose are often left unseen.