Vase (rolwagen) with flower sprays c. 1635 - 1650

This "rolwagen" vase, now at the Rijksmuseum, was likely made in China, by an anonymous artist. It features flower sprays painted in a vibrant cobalt blue on a pristine white porcelain base. The smooth, cool surface of the porcelain speaks to the complex processes involved in its creation. The clay had to be carefully sourced, prepared, shaped, and then fired at high temperatures. The decoration also required a mastery of brushwork and an understanding of how the cobalt pigment would transform in the kiln. The vase’s shape is deceptively simple, achieved by wheel-throwing or potentially slip-casting. These vases were produced in large quantities for export, reflecting a globalized economy where aesthetic traditions blended. But we should also remember the unseen labor behind each one. A highly refined work of art, yes, but also a product deeply embedded in the dynamics of global trade.