Schotel

About this artwork

hoogte 4 cm x diameter 20 cm

Art Historical Context

This delicate porcelain saucer, known as *Schotel*, hails from the Manufacture Oud-Loosdrecht, one of the Netherlands' pioneering porcelain factories established around 1774 in the village of Oud-Loosdrecht. Produced between 1774 and 1784, it exemplifies the factory's early output during a golden age of European ceramics, when Dutch artisans sought to rival the famed Chinese and Meissen porcelains flooding the market. Measuring just 4 cm in height and 20 cm in diameter, this petite dish was likely designed for tea or coffee service, reflecting the rising popularity of these beverages in affluent 18th-century Dutch households. Oud-Loosdrecht specialized in soft-paste porcelain—a refined, translucent material achieved through innovative firing techniques involving clay, glass frit, and soapstone. This medium allowed for intricate molding and decoration, often featuring underglaze blue motifs or delicate gilding inspired by rococo elegance. The factory's products gained royal patronage, underscoring their cultural prestige and role in elevating everyday tableware to artful status. As a snapshot of Enlightenment-era craftsmanship, this saucer invites us to appreciate the fusion of utility and luxury, a testament to Dutch ingenuity in the competitive world of porcelain production.