Muur met in het midden een schoorsteen met Chinees porselein 1703 - 1712

This print of a wall with a chimney piece adorned with Chinese porcelain was made by Daniël Marot. Marot, born in France, designed interiors for the upper classes, integrating French, Dutch, and Chinese elements. Note the Chinese porcelain placed above the mantle in this print. These ceramics represented a worldliness of the owner, and were collected to signify wealth and social standing. The fashion for incorporating ‘exotic’ elements from China into European art and design emerged during a period of increased global trade and colonialism. Yet, this trend was not just about aesthetics. Consider how these objects, obtained through complex and often exploitative trade networks, became symbols of status and cultural sophistication. This print thus embodies the intertwined histories of global exchange, cultural appropriation, and social identity. The piece invites us to reflect on the power dynamics embedded in the circulation and display of objects across cultures.