Schotel behorend bij een theeservies met decoratie van trofeeën aan gestrikte linten before 1814

This porcelain saucer with gilded rim was made by the Koninklijke Porseleinfabriek Dommer & Co. It is decorated with agricultural trophies tied together with ribbons. The factory was founded in 1774 in Loosdrecht, near Amsterdam. The presence of the Stadtholder, Prince William V of Orange Nassau and his court, made Loosdrecht an attractive place for entrepreneurs in luxury goods. As with other porcelain factories in Europe, the undertaking was driven by the desire to produce local substitutes for expensive imports from China and Japan. Factories were also keen to avoid the outflow of precious metals that went to pay for these goods. The decorative motifs on this saucer remind us that the factory depended for its success on local patronage and resources. Images of rural prosperity would have appealed to wealthy Dutch consumers. Understanding this artwork requires an appreciation of economic and social history, which can be gained by studying archival documents and other historical sources.