Ronde schotel before 1883

This round pewter dish was made by Jan Francis Schutjes in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century. While it may seem to be an ordinary object, it is in fact a product of its social and economic environment. Pewter was a popular material for household items in the 19th century Netherlands, used to create functional objects for the home. This was a time when the Dutch middle class was growing and their homes were being filled with items, practical and decorative, that reflected their new-found status and values. Examining this dish is a means for us to think about the rise of Dutch industrial production and how its products were circulating in the world. Careful archival research into historical inventories and trade records can tell us more about the production of pewter objects and the material culture of 19th-century Netherlands. This reminds us that even seemingly simple artifacts like this can be valuable sources of insight into the history of everyday life.