Spoelkom met decoratie van trofeeën aan gestrikte linten before 1814

This porcelain bowl, made by the Koninklijke Porseleinfabriek Dommer & Co., is adorned with painted trophies tied with ribbons, a common motif used to celebrate success. Consider how such trophies, arrangements of captured arms and armor, have been depicted since antiquity. The Greeks and Romans displayed real and sculpted spoils of war to commemorate victories. Here, the ribbons introduce an element of courtly love, a gentler touch, transforming symbols of domination into mere decorations. We see bows tied to the trophies, emblems reminiscent of those adorning the altars of Venus, or other symbols of triumph from distant times. However, in the evolution of this imagery, the emotional undercurrent remains; it still evokes a deep, subconscious engagement with themes of victory, power, and, perhaps, the fleeting nature of glory. The motif has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings.