Kop zonder oor, beschilderd met bloemen en laddermotief c. 1775 - 1778

This delicate porcelain cup, crafted in Loosdrecht, features a charming floral design and a distinctive ladder motif. The ladder pattern, which encircles the cup's rim, is particularly intriguing. Ladders have long been potent symbols, representing ascent, progress, and connection between different realms. Think of Jacob's Ladder in the Bible, a bridge between heaven and earth, or the alchemical ladder symbolizing spiritual transformation. Here, the motif may subtly evoke aspirations and upward mobility. However, the ladder can also suggest fragility and precariousness. Consider how ladders appear in dreams. Might this cup, with its delicate material and the ladder's implication of reaching for something higher, be speaking to our own human desires and vulnerabilities? A beautiful, yet poignant reminder of the delicate balance we strive to maintain.