Hengselbak met Chinese motieven 1790 - 1800

This is a porcelain basket with a gilt handle and Chinese motifs, made by Spode. In the absence of a date, we can place this piece in the late 18th or early 19th century. This was a time when European manufacturers were keen to imitate the patterns and designs of Chinese porcelain, prized for its delicacy and beauty. As trade with China increased, the fashion for ‘chinoiserie’ spread, and you see this basket is decorated with stylized flowers and patterns that are meant to evoke the Far East. But they are filtered through a European sensibility. The shape of the basket, for example, is distinctly Western. It reflects the growing consumer culture, where decorative objects were used to display wealth and good taste. The basket speaks to the complex relationship between East and West during a period of colonialism and trade. It’s a reminder that our understanding of art is always shaped by the social conditions in which it was made. To understand this piece better, you could research the history of the Spode factory and the trade routes that brought Chinese porcelain to Europe.