Tankard with flower sprays in panel decoration and cover of tin c. 1700 - 1724

This anonymous tankard features flower sprays in panel decoration and a tin cover, and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Observe the object’s overall structure. The vessel swells in the middle and tapers at the top and bottom. The shape is like a flattened sphere that’s been stretched lengthwise. A white handle provides contrast with its clean, simple arc that juts out from the decorated surface. The decoration is divided into panels by vertical bands. Within these, delicate sprays of flowers create a sense of depth against the white background. The pastel palette of pinks, greens, and blues evokes a serene, almost dreamlike, quality. Consider the interplay between the object's form and function. The floral decorations evoke growth and nature, yet they are contained within a rigid, formal structure. This dichotomy might reflect a broader cultural tension, a desire to reconcile the organic with the ordered.