Dish with the coat of arms of Hendrik Peter Godfried Quack and Isabella Gertraud von Carnap c. 1790 - 1800

Editor: This is a ceramic dish made around 1790 to 1800, decorated with the coat of arms of Hendrik Peter Godfried Quack and Isabella Gertraud von Carnap. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. I'm immediately drawn to the symmetry of the design and the delicate use of gold. How would you interpret its visual language? Curator: The dish presents a compelling interplay between Rococo elegance and heraldic symbolism. Consider first the framing device: a continuous wreath of gilded foliage. Observe the even distribution, the repetitive motif, how it establishes a sense of order and contained luxury. Then, turn to the central emblem. How do these elements interact visually? Editor: Well, the central crest, also in gold, breaks the uniformity of the wreath. The figures on either side of the shield and the star device add visual complexity. Curator: Precisely. And how does the artist employ color and space? The stark contrast between the white ceramic ground and the gold leaf elevates the design from mere utility to ornamental art. The empty space amplifies the impact of both frame and emblem. Note also the line work, defining not only shape but reflecting light. What inferences do you draw? Editor: I see how the deliberate use of symmetry and contrast creates a balanced and refined aesthetic. It speaks to wealth, but also to a controlled, perhaps even idealized, vision of family identity through heraldry. The choice of Rococo style reinforces that impression. Curator: Indeed. By analysing the form, structure, and the interplay of its visual components, we gain insight into the dish’s function as more than just a practical object, but also a reflection of social status and artistic trends of the period. Editor: Thank you. That really sheds light on how to look at the choices in design and materiality.