Schotel 1766

This is a silver schotel, or small dish, made by Arnoldus van Geffen sometime in the 18th century. Van Geffen lived and worked during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense economic growth and cultural exchange. A time when Dutch society was highly stratified, where access to luxury goods like this schotel reflected one's status. Consider how the desire for such refined objects played into the economic systems of the time, including colonialism and trade. The silver itself might have been sourced through exploitative labor practices. The small bird perched on the lid—does it represent freedom, or a gilded cage? This piece invites us to reflect on the complex ways that beauty and privilege are intertwined. It’s a reminder that even the most delicate objects can carry the weight of history.