Onderschotel van een botervloot c. 1900

This is a metal butter dish underplate made by Orivit. The circular form, rendered in cool metallic tones, immediately conveys a sense of understated elegance. Note how the curved lines of floral motifs interrupt the severe geometry of the dish, and how the reflective surface captures and subtly distorts light, lending a dynamic quality to the otherwise static object. The plate's design plays with the tension between surface and depth through applied and engraved ornamentation. The strategic placement of floral elements creates a visual rhythm that guides the eye around the plate, thus establishing a sense of balance. This piece embodies the Art Nouveau movement by challenging the rigid boundaries between art and function. The dish invites us to reconsider our relationship with everyday objects, transforming them into sites of aesthetic contemplation.