Butter tub with the coat of arms of Hendrik Peter Godfried Quack and Isabella Gertraud von Carnap c. 1790 - 1800

Here we see a butter tub with the coat of arms of Hendrik Peter Godfried Quack and Isabella Gertraud von Carnap, fashioned from porcelain and gilded by E. Blancheron. The eye is immediately drawn to the symmetrical arrangement of the tub and its base. The design features a striking contrast between the pristine white porcelain and the opulent gold detailing. Note how the repeating patterns of laurel leaves and berries create a rhythmic visual harmony. The choice of porcelain, a material prized for its delicacy and purity, underscores the status of its owners. The gilded coat of arms functions almost as a signature, proclaiming the identity and lineage of the Quack and von Carnap families. It is a signifier deeply rooted in cultural codes of nobility. Consider how the artist uses the interplay of light and shadow on the curved surfaces to enhance the three-dimensionality of the piece. In its form and function, this butter tub speaks to a culture of refinement, privilege and elaborate social rituals. It invites us to reflect on the relationship between aesthetics, identity and social hierarchy.