By the late seventeenth century, the French court of Louis XIV (1638-1715) was the model of splendor and taste for all of Europe. Every court envied his display of wealth in silver, the exalted material that signified wealth and status. Silver is a precious metal, which distinguishes it from wood, glass and porcelain which do…
The study of botany and natural sciences was a growing interest in the Netherlands during the seventeenth century. The VOC imported rare and exotic flowers to the region and helped develop their fascination amongst wealthy patrons. A few of the most beloved and expensive floral varieties were the yellow rose, the passion flower and the…
Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this polychrome gadrooned dish, which was made in the Northern Netherlands around 1650. Decorated in the stile compendiario, this tin-glazed dish is inspired by the so-called Straetwerck, Italian tin-glazed earthenware which was transported through the Straits…
The Delftware industry reached a pinnacle of success amongst European earthenware makers by the second half of the seventeenth century. Very rapidly, the number of factories producing Delftware dramatically increased. At first, the market was mostly dominated by families of craftsmen whose knowledge was built on generations of experience. However, the Delftware industry soon attracted…
Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this polychrome figure of a seated lady, from circa 1750. The figure is marked with a claw and numeral 3 in manganese for De Klaauw (The Claw) factory. Wearing a blue broad-brimmed hat, leaning against a…
Still lifes, portraits and landscapes predominate in seventeenth century paintings. In the Low Countries, genre paintings enjoyed a distinct popularity, with paintings showing scenes of ordinary people engaged in common activities. Scenes of drinking were a recurring theme in Dutch genre painting beginning in the sixteenth century. Reveling peasants and country people at the tavern…
On January 24, 1701, the Kocx family celebrated a momentous occasion. The day marked the transfer of ownership of the prosperous factory De Grieksche A (The Greek A) from Adrianus Kocx to his son, Pieter Adriaensz. Kocx. A festive dinner attended by the entire staff was organized to celebrate the event.[1] Pieter van Hurk, who…
Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this blue and white Commedia dell’ Arte figure. Marked with an asterisk and JB in blue for Justus de Berg, who was recorded as a potter at De Witte Ster (The White Star) factory, the…
Although quite a lot is known about the history and production of Delftware, one lingering question has been how these objects were distributed. Where were they sold after they left the factory? Many times, the pottery was sold directly from the factory. Delft factory owners often lived in buildings that faced the street, while the…
The colorful Imari and Kakiemon Japanese porcelain wares reached the Netherlands between 1660 and 1670. They were immensely popular in the Western market, yielding high prices and inspiring Delft potters to emulate the colorful designs. In particular, Delft potters were driven to reproduce the delicate pastels of the Kakiemon porcelains, experimenting with various color and…
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