Onderschotel van porselein 1774 - 1784

This porcelain saucer, with its delicate painting, was made in Loosdrecht. Porcelain is a strong, vitrified ceramic material, made by heating specific raw materials, like kaolin clay, to high temperatures. Its smooth, white surface results from this process. The saucer’s form was likely achieved using a mold, allowing for consistency in production. Decoration was added after the initial firing, with the bird scene and gilded rim applied over the glaze. The painterly scene contrasts with the industrial processes involved in the saucer’s production. Consider the labor involved: from mining the raw materials to the skilled artistry of the painted decoration. Porcelain was a luxury item, and its production involved many hands, reflecting a complex web of labor, skill, and consumption. Appreciating this history is key to understanding the saucer's beauty, placing it within broader social and economic contexts.