Linnen damasten tafellaken met in het midden het embleem van de Koninklijke Beetwortelzaadcultuur Kuhn & Co. Naarden 1888 - 1945

Curator: The Rijksmuseum holds this Linnen damasten tafellaken met in het midden het embleem van de Koninklijke Beetwortelzaadcultuur Kuhn & Co. Naarden, designed by Chris Lebeau and dating from around 1888 to 1945. Editor: It’s such a pale and unassuming piece at first glance, but the subtle patterns woven into the linen give it a sense of quiet luxury. Curator: I’m drawn to the material itself, linen damask. This was a sought-after fabric, painstakingly woven on a loom. The process embodies both function and artistry. Its presence signals a certain level of consumption and material culture. Editor: Indeed, the beet emblem itself resonates with hidden meaning. Rooted in the earth, the beet connects to themes of sustenance, growth, and the cultivation of nature, which I would say symbolizes prosperity for the company, even a kind of fertility. Curator: Absolutely, and beyond symbolism, think of the labor invested. Cultivating the flax, spinning the linen, the complex damask weaving - a fascinating network of social and economic relations are embedded in the making of this single textile. It hints at both domestic industry and international commerce. Editor: I agree, and the very choice of rendering it on a tablecloth—an item associated with meals, with family gatherings, or business luncheons—adds another layer. Food becomes almost sacred; it signifies something bigger than daily living. Curator: In some ways this challenges the perceived hierarchy of art. A functional, mass-produced object elevates design through its inherent construction process. Is it purely functional, or is there art coded in every thread? Editor: For me, it really becomes an object loaded with quiet domestic symbolism that also echoes on to greater industry and community prosperity through time. This is not "just" a table cloth! Curator: Seeing how something functional manifests its values is extremely important for this kind of study; it makes this particular creation more powerful. Editor: I see it that way too.