Soepterrine van porselein c. 1774 - 1784

This porcelain soup tureen was made by the Loosdrecht factory, active in the Netherlands from 1774 to 1819. It is a reminder of the influence that global trade had on European decorative arts. The tureen's form and delicate floral decoration reveal the impact of imported Chinese porcelain. Loosdrecht, like other European manufacturers, sought to imitate and compete with these coveted wares. But this wasn't a simple matter of copying. Loosdrecht adapted Chinese designs to suit European tastes and the demands of courtly life. Loosdrecht was particularly reliant on the stadtholder William V who gave the company financial support and commercial protection. As art historians, we explore how economic and political forces shaped the production and consumption of such objects. Archival documents, pattern books, and archaeological finds can reveal the complex web of artistic exchange and social aspirations that informed even a seemingly simple soup tureen.