Schotel versierd met orchideën en een geel hek 1900 - 1925

Here we have a small plate decorated with orchids and a yellow fence, made by Utzschneider & Cie., the date is unknown, but I’d put money on the late 19th century. The colours are muted, sort of watercoloury, and the drawing is delicate, but it’s the composition that’s really interesting. The way the orchids and other botanical details are arranged around the plate feels totally intuitive, like a kind of dance. I love how the green stems meander across the surface, connecting the different elements. And that little yellow fence – is it a fence or some kind of abstract shape? What’s so great about this piece is the way the artist has embraced ambiguity. Is it a functional object or a work of art? Does it matter? For me, it’s a reminder that art is everywhere, even in the most unexpected places. It reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Murray's broken plates, where representation and abstraction meet and merge.