Ceramics – Aronson Antiquairs of Amsterdam | Delftware | Made in Holland

D2540. Pair of Blue and White Budai Heshang Flower Holders

femke@aronson.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:28:55 +0000

Delft, circa 1700

Each marked LVE 0 2 in blue for Lambertus van Eenhoorn, the owner of De Metaale Pot (The Metal Pot) factory from 1691 until 1721, or his widow Margaretha Teckmann from 1721 to 1724

Each modeled as a seated Budai Heshang, wearing a robe loosely draped to reveal his corpulent belly and patterned with florets, sprigs and leafy stems, from his head emerges the spout painted with floral sprigs and an openwork rim.

DIMENSIONS
Heights: 10.1 cm. (4 in.)

PROVENANCE
The Peter Van Slyke Collection, U.S.A.;
Sotheby’s, Amsterdam, 3 December 2002, lot 1

NOTE
A The Budai Heshang, often referred to as the “Laughing Buddha,” is a prominent figure in Chinese culture and religion, particularly within Chinese Buddhism. Historically, Budai was a semi-legendary monk who lived during the late Tang (618–907) or early Song (960–1279) dynasty. His name, meaning “cloth sack,” derives from the bag he carried, which symbolized his generosity as he distributed food and gifts to the poor. Budai is considered a manifestation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, and his image
represents themes of contentment, abundance, and happiness.

Budai is traditionally depicted as a cheerful, corpulent figure with a large exposed belly, symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. His jovial demeanor and informal posture contrast with the solemn representations of traditional Buddhas, emphasizing accessibility and joy. Over time, his image transcended its religious context, becoming a
universal symbol of happiness and prosperity in both East Asian and global cultures.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with the rise of European trade with China through the Dutch East India Company (VOC), Budai figurines became highly sought-after in Europe as part of the fascination with exotic goods and Chinese culture. Delft potters, inspired by Chinese porcelain, adopted the Budai Heshang figure into their
repertoire, producing seated Budai figures with their characteristic smiling expressions and ample bellies. In Delftware, these figures were often adapted stylistically to suit European tastes, combining traditional Chinese iconography with the decorative artistry of Dutch ceramics.

The Budai Heshang in Delftware highlights the blending of cultural motifs and the adaptation of Asian artistic themes into European decorative arts, underscoring the global interconnectedness of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. These Delft interpretations of Budai often emphasize his cheerful demeanor and iconic belly while incorporating Delft’s signature blue-and-white or polychrome decoration, showcasing the unique fusion of Asian inspiration and Dutch craftsmanship.

Complete Series of Seasonal Plates

Celine — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:41:58 +0000

Complete series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits:

January – Skaters on a canal and a gentleman seated in a tent and being served a goblet of wine
February – An interior with a gentleman warming his hands and feet at the fireplace and looking toward two couples seated at a table
March – A man smoking and supervising a gardener while a woman strolls beyond, and inscribed with the name of a month.
April – A gardener supporting a spade and offering a posy to a lady
May – A pair of sweethearts seated beneath a tree with a shepherd tending his flock in the distance
June – A man shearing a sheep near a youthful shepherd and his flock
July – A harvester raking hay while another drinks from a bottle
August – Three men harvesting and bundling hay
September – A woman pointing at the apples falling from a tree being shaken by a man while another man carries away a basket full of the fruit
October – A man rolling a wine barrel near two gentleman, one holding a bottle and offering the other a goblet of wine
November – two children watching their father and mother bleed a pig
December – A man chopping branches off a tree near skaters

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase the limited edition hand painted versions of the same object.

A similar set, also from the De Byl factory is in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (inv. nos 1921-3-31-40, 89, 90) and is illustrated in E.B. Schaap, Delft Ceramics at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia 2003, p. 51.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘November’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:10:38 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting two children watching their father and mother bleed a pig, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘October’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:08:33 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting a man rolling a wine barrel near two gentleman, one holding a bottle and offering the other a goblet of wine, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘September’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:06:53 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting a woman pointing at the apples falling from a tree being shaken by a man while another man carries away a basket full of the fruit, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘August’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 16:04:14 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting three men harvesting and bundling hay, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘July’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:50:55 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting a harvester raking hay while another drinks from a bottle, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘June’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:49:33 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting a man shearing a sheep near a youthful shepherd and his flock, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘May’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:47:31 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting a pair of sweethearts seated beneath a tree with a shepherd tending his flock in the distance, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.

Hand-Painted Limited Edition Seasonal Plate ‘April’

Celine — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:46:13 +0000

One of a series of 12 modern ceramic plates with decorations partially taken from a rare series of plates by De Porceleyne Byl (The Porcelain Axe) factory from circa 1780. Each plate is painted across the interior with figures at various appropriate pursuits, in this case depicting a gardener supporting a spade and offering a posy to a lady, and inscribed with the name of a month.

From mid 2020 you will be able to purchase a range of transfer printed modern ceramics with decorations partially taken from or based on 17th or 18th century objects from our collection in some of the Heinen shops or online. Through us you will be able to purchase a limited edition hand painted version of the same object.