Waterkan en beker op blad, met decor met hanen c. 1920

Curator: Well, hello there! And welcome. Here we have what’s described as a "Waterkan en beker op blad, met decor met hanen,” or water jug and cup on a plate, with rooster decoration, made around 1920 by Plateelbakkerij De Distel. Editor: Roosters, eh? Hmm. Initially, it reads to me like something ceremonial—but the almost stark contrasts, they give it a distinctly… powerful presence. Austere yet spirited. Is that just me? Curator: No, I think you’re onto something. While its function might have been for the everyday ritual of hydration, roosters, even stylized like this, have always carried symbolic weight. Think of their association with vigilance, sunrise, a call to action, sometimes even aggression. This Art Nouveau iteration strips that down but retains that potent visual energy. Editor: I love that—visual energy. The ceramic material and the dark ground with cream birds... it feels grounded, yes, but those bird forms practically vibrate. It's as though a mythic beast is being born from the clay itself. Curator: It is interesting, that primal emergence, that feeling it gives. Roosters in folklore often connect the earthly and the spiritual, serving as messengers. The color choice here isn't accidental; the deep, enveloping blacks contrasting sharply against the lighter tones. Perhaps alluding to hidden wisdom being brought to light? Editor: Hidden wisdom served with a refreshing cup of… water. A delightfully subversive little set. It's practical and meaningful. Imagine waking up and being greeted by this piece every morning! The mundane infused with some subtle potency. Curator: Precisely! A testament to the power of the decorative arts to imbue our daily lives with symbolism and, of course, an ever-present bit of flair. Editor: Well, I will see the roosters in a new light now. Consider my outlook broadened, one stylish avian vessel at a time.