"Time and tide wait for no man," an old English proverb reminds us. While the passage of time and the forces of nature remain beyond human control, mankind has long sought ways to measure and understand its relentless progression. From the great public clocks that governed civic life to the increasingly sophisticated timepieces of the…
Main Image: Drawing, Anonymous, Interior of a Coffee House in London, Britain, circa 1690, Collection of the British Museum (inv. no 162021001) Coffee: few commodities are as widespread or as deeply woven into daily life. For many people, the day begins with a cup of coffee, accompanied by the vessels and utensils designed for its…
Oil and vinegar sets, commonly referred to as cruet sets, are among the more telling additions to the early modern dining table. Their emergence marks a shift toward more structured dining, in which individual elements assumed a defined role in both presentation and use. In the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, dining in Europe became…
William of Orange-Nassau (Dillenburg, 1533 – Delft, 1584), widely known as the Dutch “Father of the Fatherland,” served as stadholder of the provinces of Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht, and played a central role in organizing resistance against Spanish rule during the Eighty Years’ War (1568–1648). His close association with Delft, where he established his residence…
In this months article, we are focussing on the Van Gelder Collection. This exceptional ensemble, comprising more than 350 objects, is widely regarded as the largest and most comprehensive private collection of apothecary ceramics in existence. It was assembled with exceptional care and discernment by the apothecary J.B. (Joop) van Gelder. While his primary focus…
Main image by Michiel Elsevier Stokmans: ‘Actie’ Delftware, from Aronson Antiquairs, to be presented at TEFAF 2026. With TEFAF 2026 in sight, we are greatly looking forward to presenting our collection in Maastricht and would like to offer a first preview of a remarkable ensemble. The group consists of eight Delftware plates, accompanied by a…
Main image by Marie Louise Photography. Blue and White Flower Vase, marked CK for Cornelis Koppens, owner of De Metaale Pot (The Metal Pot) factory from 1724 to 1757, Delft, circa 1730, Aronson Collection (inv. no. D2211) Delft flower vases with multiple spouts have been admired since their earliest production in the last quarter of…
Main image: Jacob Houbraken, Het Sint Nicolaasfeest, Engraving, 1761, Collection Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (inv. no. RP-P-1938-1443) The footwear worn by the figures in the engraving correspond perfectly with the Delft miniature shoe models. On 5 December, many people in the Netherlands celebrate Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas), a time-honored occasion rich in history, ritual, and joy. It is…
Main image: Polychrome plaque, Delft, circa 1740-1760, former Aronson Collection (inv. no. D0731) Since Chinese porcelain entered the Dutch market around 1600, it captured people’s imagination and laid the foundation for Delft faience. One of the most fascinating aspects of this cultural exchange is the transformation of Chinese motifs, often associated with deep symbolic meanings,…
Main image: Set of Four Blue and White Armorial Tobacco Jars and Brass Cover, Delft, c.1820, Aronson Collection (inv. no. D1368) Tobacco has served as a medicinal, comforting, stimulating, and religious substance. Upon their arrival in the Americas in 1492, Christopher Columbus and his crew noted that Indigenous peoples were using what they described as…
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