Sleeve vase c. 1635 - 1650

This impressive Delftware sleeve vase was made by an anonymous artist, sometime in the past. Decorated in cobalt blue on a white ground, its surface depicts a bustling scene with figures in a landscape. The story told here is important. Delftware was a Dutch industry, but the style and the cobalt pigment came from China. Dutch traders, in a violent and exploitative colonial past, would import the porcelain from China, then copy it in Delft. The popularity of these wares speaks to the long history of trade and cultural exchange, yet it is also a poignant reminder of colonial power dynamics. The craftsmanship involved in creating this vase, whether by a man or woman, reflects their skill but also perhaps their position within the guild system and broader societal structure. Consider how the vase is not just an object of beauty but a vessel carrying the weight of history, connecting us to stories of trade, artistry, and cultural appropriation. It invites us to reflect on the complexities of cultural exchange and the legacies of colonialism embedded in everyday objects.