Bloempot 1777 - 1790

Curator: Here we have "Bloempot", a flower pot created sometime between 1777 and 1790 by Porseleinfabriek Den Haag. Editor: It's quite charming. At first glance, the earthenware seems delicate. The hand-painted scenes surrounded by garlands feel quaint and precious. Curator: The Rijksmuseum identifies this piece as a blend of Rococo and Orientalist styles, fairly typical of decorative arts of that era. You see the delicate, asymmetrical lines in the garlands, but also the fascination with landscape details evocative of Eastern design traditions. Editor: What strikes me is the inherent contradiction in its production. This isn’t some delicate objet d’art produced by a single craftsperson. The Porseleinfabriek suggests a factory setting, division of labor. How does this impact the authenticity we might ascribe to such a "precious" item? Curator: Exactly! The pursuit of beauty was not separated from questions of commerce and production. These factories were making luxury goods for an expanding market, catering to bourgeois tastes imitating aristocratic sensibilities. Think of it as a democratization of décor. Editor: The means of production dictated the final aesthetic, right? These landscape scenes are more generic, easily replicable compared to individually crafted art objects. This reminds me how the industrial revolution seeped into even the most refined decorative arts. Curator: Indeed. And while this factory existed, you cannot underestimate its historical context of its production with that era’s artistic tastes, socio-economic change. It allows one to examine societal transformations through design. Editor: The piece raises questions beyond just aesthetics, engaging the social context of its creation, questioning hierarchies within craft and production, even. It definitely prompts further inquiry. Curator: Absolutely. "Bloempot" is far more than just a flower pot. It's a complex document. Editor: More than what it seems, yes—I appreciate now the piece a lot more, for sure!