D2518. Blue and White Pear-Shaped Vase

Delft, circa 1680

Marked SVE 5 in blue for Samuel van Eenhoorn, the owner of De Grieksche A (The Greek A) factory from 1678 until 1685

Painted on the body with a bird perched on a branch in front of a chrysanthemum, being approached by another bird in flight above shrubbery and flowers and a butterfly in flight, the tapering waist with a broad band of floral scrollwork, below a band of alternating striped triangles, the neck with two stylized flower motifs below a band of striped triangles on the tapering spout, the flaring foot with a floral band above a dentil border.

DIMENSIONS
Height: 26.7 cm. (10.5 in.)

NOTE
Although early attempts to replicate Chinese porcelain began in the early seventeenth century, it was not until around the 1650s that these efforts started to achieve real success. When Samuel van Eenhoorn took ownership of De Grieksche A (The Greek A) in 1678, there was a growing demand for exotic-looking objects, as the supply of Chinese porcelain to the Dutch market had dwindled. However, it remains uncertain whether this particular shape was inspired by a Chinese porcelain model or was an original design created by Van Eenhoorn or his team. Van Eenhoorn’s legacy includes a diverse range of forms, such as a polygonal bottle (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, inv. no. C.2357-1910) and various vases. His work during his tenure attracted the attention of the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange, who were among his prestigious clients.

SIMILAR EXAMPLES
This shape appears to be unique within the extensive oeuvre of Samuel van Eenhoorn. However, the base and body closely resemble a bottle marked SVE in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago (inv. no. 1930.965), though that bottle features medallions on the body and a straight neck. Another bottle of similar shape is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam (inv. no. BK-NM-12400-82), but it lacks the screw-top closure and has different decoration.