Plate c. 1710 - 1720

This plate was made by the Grieksche A Factory sometime between 1657 and 1818. It’s an example of the Dutch East India Company’s influence on European markets. The organization was responsible for the import of Asian goods into Europe, and as Chinese porcelain became increasingly popular in Europe, Dutch manufacturers attempted to replicate the style using local materials and techniques. These efforts resulted in Delftware, a type of tin-glazed pottery that imitated the look of Chinese porcelain. The images on the plate were hand-painted using traditional Delftware colors, such as blue, white, and red and are based on Chinese designs, with figures in a garden setting. By appropriating imagery from another culture, does the plate celebrate cultural exchange or perpetuate cultural stereotypes? Research into the archives of the Dutch East India Company, or the records of Delftware factories, might help us better understand how these objects shaped European perceptions of Asia, and how they were used to establish cultural and economic dominance.