Haarddeksteen met het wapen van Filips II 1527 - 1598

This anonymous earthenware stove plate, now in the Rijksmuseum, bears the coat of arms of Phillip II. Made in the Netherlands, likely in the latter half of the 16th century, its presence marks a specific moment in the fraught relationship between the Dutch and their Spanish rulers. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The inclusion of Phillip’s coat of arms indicates an attempt to display and therefore solidify Spanish authority and influence. The surrounding lions and architectural motifs are typical of the period. Given its date, we can assume that this stove plate was made during the early years of the 'Eighty Years War', when the Dutch were fighting for independence from Spain. By considering the social conditions of its production, we can understand how the symbolism of this object would have been received by the Dutch. The plate’s existence points to a divided society, where symbols of power were contested. Studying the archives of civic institutions, for example, could reveal more about the work’s original commissioner, and how they intended for it to be used.