Schotel 1777 - 1790

This impressive platter was made at the Porseleinfabriek Den Haag, using a high-fired ceramic known as porcelain. Porcelain is created by firing a mixture of kaolin clay, silica, and feldspar at extremely high temperatures. The result is a non-porous, translucent, and durable material, perfect for elegant tableware. Look closely, and you can see the division of labor that went into its production. The platter was likely made by one set of workers, with the floral decoration added by a specialist painter. While the factory undoubtedly had its own aesthetic, the painted motifs reflect a broader international taste for Chinoiserie, with stylized botanical patterns and asymmetrical arrangements. Remember, porcelain itself was a Chinese invention. Over the centuries, Europeans tried to emulate it, and when they finally succeeded, they then re-imported design ideas from the culture that had invented the material in the first place. This platter shows the complex global exchange that underpins all acts of making.