Milk pot 1775 - 1785

This delicate milk pot was made by the Loosdrecht porcelain factory in the Netherlands sometime in the 18th century. Milk pots such as these were both functional and symbolic objects. They spoke to Dutch wealth and global trade. Consider, for example, the significance of porcelain itself, initially a luxury good imported at great expense from China. And we can also see how the floral motifs are inspired by East Asian decorative arts. Loosdrecht, like other European manufacturers, sought to replicate the prized Chinese porcelain and cater to the growing demand for these status objects among the European aristocracy. What we see in this milk pot is not simply a vessel for dairy, but a representation of cultural exchange, economic ambition, and the aspirations of a particular social class. To fully appreciate the nuances of pieces such as this, we might consider the economic systems that made porcelain production possible, alongside the social rituals that dictated its use.