Pot met parellijst en geometrische motieven c. 1904 - 1910

This small pot with pearl trim and geometric motifs was made by Amstelhoek, though we don't know exactly when. What we can see, however, are some of the visual codes that would have given it meaning. The symmetry and neutral colour speak to an aesthetic of order and restraint. The geometric pattern is an interesting motif. Given that Amstelhoek was founded in the Netherlands to keep up with international competition in the pottery trade, we might see this as a conscious attempt to create a modern, Dutch style by incorporating the geometric abstraction that was becoming fashionable at the time. Of course, to understand this pot and the firm that made it properly, one would need to delve into archives, trade publications, and design history, to understand the social and economic context out of which it emerged. Because the meaning of art is always contingent on context.