Bord, veelkleurig beschilderd met een tulp c. 1765 - 1770

This plate, painted with colorful tulips, was created by Joseph Hannonge. Although we don't have dates for Hannonge, the tulip motif offers us a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the time. Tulips weren't just flowers; they were symbols deeply entwined with commerce, status, and desire. The "Tulip Mania" of the Dutch Golden Age saw these blooms reach astronomical prices, embodying both the height of luxury and the perils of speculative markets. The delicate rendering of the tulip on this plate feels particularly resonant. Does it serve as a quiet critique of the excesses of its time, a meditation on beauty, or a demonstration of wealth? Perhaps it is all of those things. Take a moment to consider how this singular flower carries such heavy cultural weight, subtly layered onto something as ordinary as a plate.