Design for Single Footed Dish with Cover Shaped like Flower and Foliage 1500 - 1583

This is a design for a single footed dish with cover shaped like flower and foliage by Erasmus Hornick, made in the 16th century using pen and watercolor. Hornick was a goldsmith and printmaker, active in a world where artistry and craftsmanship were deeply intertwined with social status and economic power. Reflecting the opulence of the Renaissance era, the dish is more than a functional object; it embodies a set of aspirations tied to luxury, power, and display. The floral design speaks to a broader cultural interest in naturalism, yet it's transformed here into a highly stylized form, signaling a controlled, almost aristocratic relationship with the natural world. Erasmus asks us to consider, "How does an object like this operate within networks of power, desire, and identity?" Such an object would have been for the elites. Imagine the dish placed at the center of a table, shimmering under candlelight, a testament to the owner's wealth and refined taste. Its beauty serves as a means to power, but the question remains: at what cost?