Dienblad van palissander, ingelegd met ebbenhout en ivoor. Omranding met poten en grepen van zilver, ingelegd met florale motieven in turkoois, donkerblauw en wit email. 1903

This is a tray made of rosewood inlaid with ebony and ivory, with silver handles, inlaid with floral motifs in turquoise, dark blue and white enamel, by 't Binnenhuis. The smooth surface and clean lines are characteristic of the Art Deco movement which was popular in the early 20th century. The materials used tell a larger story about power, access and exploitation. Rosewood, ebony, and ivory were luxury items, sourced from colonized regions, and available only to a privileged class. 't Binnenhuis was known for its commitment to uniting art and industry, yet the tray embodies the complex relationship between aesthetics and ethics. Consider how an object such as this creates a sense of refinement, but simultaneously obscures the realities of global resource extraction and labor practices. While the floral motifs offer a sense of beauty, they are also a reminder of the complicated histories embedded in the materials themselves.