Onderschotel van een notenmand, beschilderd met strooibloemen en gouden biezen

About this artwork

hoogte 3,4 cm x diameter 25,6 cm

Art Historical Context

This elegant porcelain saucer, produced by Manufacture Oud-Loosdrecht between 1782 and 1784, once formed part of a nut basket service designed for refined 18th-century dining. Standing just 3.4 centimeters high with a diameter of 25.6 centimeters, the piece exemplifies the delicate tableware created by this short-lived but influential Dutch factory. Its surface features scattered floral motifs—known as “strooibloemen”—alongside delicate golden borders that highlight the refined taste of the period. Porcelain production in the Netherlands represented both technical achievement and cultural aspiration, as European makers sought to rival imported Chinese wares. The factory at Oud-Loosdrecht employed skilled painters who applied these lively flower patterns and gilded accents by hand, transforming everyday objects into small works of art. Such decorative details not only enhanced the visual appeal of the table but also signaled the owner’s appreciation for contemporary fashions in luxury goods. Today, this modest yet beautifully ornamented saucer offers visitors a glimpse into late-eighteenth-century Dutch domestic life, where even functional items were crafted with artistic care and quiet elegance.