D2120. Blue and White Flower Vase

Delft, circa 1710

The spade-shaped body painted on the front with a peacock in flight above a profusion of flowering plants on which another exotic bird is perched, the reverse painted with two birds in flight aside of a flowering plant, the sides with S-scroll handles decorated with continuous scrolls, the knopped ankle above a blue-ground flaring rectangular foot with a decoration of demi-chrysanthemum blossoms and leaves, repeated on the top and sides  issuing five octagonal spouts, the larger central spout painted with foliate devices and the four flanking spouts with a border of icicle devices.

Dimensions
Height: 16.2 cm. (6.4 in.)

Note
Flower vases with fanning rows of spouts were produced at the Delft potteries from the 1680s to about 1740. Initially, they were designed as simple quintel vases, which were topped by a single row of five spouts arranged in a fan. The heart-shaped model with five spouts followed the early quintel vase. The only marked pieces of the heart-shaped model are from De Metaale Pot (The Metal Pot) factory, and were produced until the 1730s. This model was probably intended to be seen from one side because of the flat shape. The decorative vase may have been displayed on a mantelpiece, above a door, or on a piece of furniture.