Zoutvat 1750 - 1775

This ceramic salt cellar known as ‘Zoutvat’ was made in Delft by De Porceleijne Claeuw. This object invites us to think about the social rituals of dining in the Netherlands, a country that built its wealth through international trade, and which developed a sophisticated mercantile culture during the 17th Century. The salt cellar is decorated with figurines in blue and white, a clear sign of the influence of Chinese porcelain on Dutch pottery production, as trade routes opened up in Asia. It’s hard to tell without further research exactly what social class this object was intended for. Salt was an important commodity at the time, but it was not always affordable for everyone. Such tableaus of figurines evoke a sense of prosperity and social harmony which are often present in art commissioned by wealthy patrons. But we should always question the power dynamics at play in such images. Historians have access to merchant records, trade statistics, and sumptuary laws that give us great insight into the conditions of artistic production.