BK-1991-1

About this artwork

height 4.4 cm x width 40 cm x depth 27.8 cm

Art Historical Context

This delicate polychrome piece, created between 1784 and 1786 by the Manufacture Oud-Loosdrecht, offers a glimpse into the final years of one of the Netherlands’ earliest porcelain factories. Active from 1774 until its closure around 1785, the Loosdrecht workshop sought to rival established European producers like Meissen by crafting refined tableware and decorative objects for Dutch and international patrons. The low height and broad rectangular form suggest it may have served as a plaque, tray, or decorative panel, its compact scale inviting close inspection of the painted surface. Polychromy was central to the factory’s artistic identity, allowing artisans to apply layered enamels in vibrant hues over a white porcelain ground. This technique not only enhanced visual richness but also reflected the period’s taste for colorful, narrative decoration inspired by both Asian porcelain and contemporary European styles. Though modest in size, such works demonstrate the technical ambition of Dutch porcelain makers during the late Enlightenment, when luxury goods increasingly blended utility with artistic expression. Today, this object stands as a quiet testament to a brief yet significant chapter in European ceramic history, preserving the refined craftsmanship of a manufactory that helped establish the Netherlands’ place in the porcelain tradition.