Pattipan van theeservies c. 1784

This delicate Pattipan or small plate, part of a tea service, was crafted in Loosdrecht. The eye is immediately drawn to the plate's scalloped edge, lined with gold, which gives way to a band of soft green and a repeating pattern of tiny purple flowers. Scattered across the plate’s centre are small, isolated floral motifs. What makes this piece intriguing is its play with structure. The outer floral band creates a rhythmic, almost mathematical, structure which contrasts with the seemingly random placement of the flowers in the plate’s centre. This tension between order and randomness destabilizes any fixed reading. One could interpret the floral motifs as signs of a larger cultural code related to nature and beauty. However, the way Loosdrecht arranges these elements challenges traditional notions of symmetry and balance. Instead, we are left with a piece that is not just aesthetically pleasing but also prompts us to question established artistic conventions. The plate’s formal qualities encourage ongoing dialogue and reinterpretation.