Renowned photographer Cecil Beaton, celebrated for capturing the essence of beauty and sophistication, left an indelible mark on the world of photography. His lens, known for its discerning eye, skillfully portrayed subjects in a way that transcended mere imagery.

One captivating photograph by Beaton showcases the timeless elegance of Nancy Lancaster. An influential figure in the world of interior design, Lancaster’s love for filling rooms with flowers is beautifully illustrated through towering geraniums in the entry hall of Haseley Court. Lancaster bought Haseley Court, an 18th century house in Oxfordshire, in 1954. But there’s more to this photograph than meets the eye.

Lancaster stands beside one of a pair of late 17th century Delftware display vases, produced by Adrianus Kocx, the esteemed owner of The Greek A factory from 1686 to 1701. These Delftware treasures were acquired by Robert’s grandfather, adding a touch of historical richness to the composition. Notably, these vases now find a home at the Prinsenhof Museum after being sold to the municipality of Delft.

This connection to Dutch Delftware adds a layer of cultural significance to Beaton’s photographic narrative. The intertwining of Lancaster’s refined taste and the historical resonance of the Delftware vases creates a visual dialogue between different epochs, seamlessly captured by Beaton’s lens.

This photograph was discovered while researching the provenance of this Delftware pyramidal flower vase, circa 1690 from his estate.

This chinoiserie style charger depicts the preparation of tea using two different sizes of teapots. The large teapot functioned as a kettle to heat the water. The water was then poured into the smaller teapot that contained tea leaves. Early Chinese teapots are generally of a small size and were intended for individual use with each pot reserved for making a particular type of tea. The size reflects the importance of serving small portions each time so that the flavors can be better concentrated, controlled and then repeated. Some records suggest that the Chinese carried their teapots and drank the prepared loose leaf tea directly from the nozzle of the teapots. Although this does seem rather strange to westerners, it is also very practical. The red Chinese Yixing teapots were seasoned after repeated use, making it unnecessary to use tea leaves every time.

In seventeenth-century Holland, where tea was an exotic and expensive luxury and consumed sparingly, teapots were also of a small size. As in China, teapots were used as infusion pots, and once the strong brew was poured into a cup, it would be diluted with water from a kettle.

Blue and White Chinoiserie Charger
Delft, circa 1685

Painted in the center with a Chinese man holding a fan and gesturing toward a low table set with a steaming large teapot and a smaller teapot, his attendant carrying a pennant and standing behind him, all within two concentric lines, the upstanding rim with four flowering plants each growing on large rock work and alternated by two birds in flight or flowering plants.

Diameter: 30.3 cm. (11.9 in.)

Price: €5.800   (appr. GBP£ 5,000 or export US$ 6’100 )

Dogs have been beloved human companions for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, dogs were used for hunting, and they were domesticated over 10,000 years ago in the Far East. In the early modern period dogs assisted during the hunt, pulled carts, and were also kept as companions. Many contemporary paintings also show that several royal and noble families kept dogs as pets. For example, the pug, which is related to Far Eastern mastiffs, was introduced in Europe by the Dutch in the sixteenth century. Popularized by the House of Orange-Nassau, pugs quickly became the companion of kings and aristocracy. Therefore it is not surprising that the beloved animal also appears in and on Dutch Delftware.

This pair of blue and white figures of seated dogs, made around 1760, is delicately painted and shows the dog as a loyal pet with its collar affixed with a bell. Figures of dogs were produced in Delft from the eighteenth century. Purely ornamental objects, such as the present pair of dogs,  were placed on the mantelpiece, etageres, or inside the ‘porcelain’ cabinet. A 1779 inventory made after the death of a former Delftware factory owner mentions figures of dogs found on the dining room mantelpiece, and several more figures in the kitchen along with the more typical Delft plates and dishes.

In the eighteenth century, Holland was an agricultural region, a history that is often reflected in Delftware animals. Among the most prolifically produced were the farm and domestic animals. The representations of animals are famous: horses, cows, dogs and goats. Everyday life formed an important inspiration for the Delftware potters.

Pair of Blue and White Figures of Seated Dogs
Delft, circa 1760

Each painted with delineated hide and facial features, wearing a collar affixed with a bell and seated on a high lozenge-shaped base, its sides painted with panels with floral sprigs alternated by trellis diaper-work panels.

Height: 7.3 cm. (2.9 in.)

Price: € 6.500  (appr. GBP£ 5,800  or export US$ 6’900 )

^[1]  The breed is indeed inextricably linked to the Royal Dutch family. Legend has it that William the Silent, Prince of Orange was saved by his pug (the so-called Pompey), who by his barking foiled an assassination attempt against his master. The pug became the official dog of the House of Orange-Nassau. Later, in 1689, when William III was named King of England, several pugs accompanied the Royal couple and attended the ceremony.

^[2]   M.S. Van Aken-Fehmers. Delfts Aardewerk, Geschiedenis van een nationaal product, Volume II, Zwolle/Den Haag (Gemeentemuseum) 2001, p. 126.