Kop en schotel met riviergezicht 1809 - 1814

This porcelain cup and saucer, decorated with a river scene and gilded edges, was made by the Koninklijke Porseleinfabriek Dommer & Co. Porcelain, that most precious of ceramics, is made by firing a blend of kaolin clay and petuntse stone at extremely high temperatures. The result is a translucent, delicate, yet surprisingly strong material, perfect for refined objects like this cup and saucer. The serene landscape, painted with delicate precision, contrasts with the industrial processes needed to make the cup. Consider the labor involved in mining the raw materials, shaping the clay, firing the porcelain, and meticulously hand-painting the scene and gilding. The landscape tradition, with its emphasis on beauty and the picturesque, stands in tension with the factory production. The cup and saucer represents the complex interplay between art, craft, and industrial production, reminding us that even the most seemingly delicate objects are the product of extensive labor and technical expertise.