Plate with the arms of the Van Gellicum family

About this artwork

diameter 21.8 cm

Art Historical Context

This exquisite plate, bearing the heraldic arms of the Vanicum family, dates to around 1710–1730 and was crafted by an anonymous artisan. Measuring a modest height of 2.1 cm and a diameter of 21. cm, it exemplifies the refined tableware of early 18th-century Europe likely produced in the Netherlands where the Van Gellicum name evokes a prominent patrician lineage. Heraldic porcelain or earthenware like this served as both functional dishware and symbols of social prestige. Wealthy families commissioned such pieces to display their coats of arms at banquets or on sideboards, underscoring lineage and status during the Dutch Republic's prosperous aftermath of its Golden Age. The Van Gellicum arms, with their distinctive motifs, would have proudly announced familial heritage to guests. Crafted via "turning"—the skilled process of shaping clay on a potter's wheel—this plate highlights anonymous mastery in achieving perfect symmetry and thin walls. Its delicate profile reflects the era's advances in ceramic techniques, blending utility with subtle elegance for everyday luxury. A charming glimpse into aristocratic life!

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...