Plate 1745 - 1765

This plate, by Jan Luyken, was made using earthenware and glaze. Decoration of this type involved coating the plate with a white glaze made from tin oxide, and then painting a design onto it. The blue color comes from cobalt oxide. What makes this plate interesting is how it bridges different worlds of making. On the one hand, it's a humble, functional object. On the other, it incorporates sophisticated decorative skill. Look closely and you can see a biblical scene of the Nativity, painted with delicate precision. The floral rim is also skillfully rendered. The creation of ceramics like this was a massive industry in the early modern period, and Dutch workshops were among the most productive. The division of labor in those shops would have been quite pronounced. Some workers dug clay, others mixed pigments, still others operated the kilns or painted designs. So, while Luyken's name is on this plate, the contributions of many others are present too. Ultimately, the plate stands as a testament to the value of considering art beyond traditional categories, and to the skilled labour that has always underpinned artistic expression.