Plate 1695 - 1725

This tin-glazed earthenware plate was made sometime between 1670 and 1775 by De Metaale Pot Factory. Originating in Delft, a city grappling with its identity in the wake of the Dutch Golden Age, this plate reflects the complex interplay of commerce, artistry, and cultural identity. During this period, Delftware became a symbol of Dutch prosperity, as the Dutch East India Company brought exotic goods into Europe. The plate’s design, with its floral motifs, evokes the era's fascination with the East. But, it also prompts us to consider the darker side of this prosperity; that it was built on colonial exploitation and the labor of enslaved people. Looking closely, we can see a tension between imitation and innovation. The artisans of De Metaale Pot were not merely copying foreign styles; they were reinterpreting them through a Dutch lens. This act of cultural translation speaks to the complexities of identity formation. The plate reminds us that identity is rarely fixed, but is instead a fluid process of exchange and adaptation.