Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland large handpainted Gouda 'Purdah' vase

Large (27,5 x 20 cm) handpainted Gouda style vase made in 1929 by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) in Gouda, the Netherlands. The vase is painted in Dutch art nouveau Gouda style with a décor called "Purdah". This décor is one of the most striking and visually outstanding patterns made by PZH and highly prized by collectors.

The amphora shaped vase features a round body with two handles. The body is decorated with a circle of six organic shapes painted in russet (reddish brown), ochre (yellow-gold), black and blue colours on a cream white background. The lower part is painted a solid dark blue. The shoulders and neck of the vase feature ochre spirals painted over dark blue, with a ring of ornaments in ochre and russet near the rim. The handles and the upper and lower rim of the vase are painted dark chocolate brown. The inside of the neck is painted black, with some blue colour shimmering through. The inside of the body of the vase has a greenish cream white glaze and the base of the vase has a light grey paint.

This vase is made with a matt glaze style, which means that the decorations were not painted underglaze (under a transparent glaze), but instead were painted on top of a cream white background glaze and fused with this glaze during a second firing. This process is similar to the creation of tin-glazed Delftware and was first adopted by PZH for Gouda style earthenware in 1909.

The vase is fully signed at the bottom in ochre with a handpainted PZH mark (a house with a gate, the Lazarus gate of Gouda), the name "Plazuid" (short for Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland), a model or series number (2505), the name of the decor (Purdah), a year symbol (of 1929), a painter's signature (N, of Mr. W.A. Nonner (Wouter Antonie) who worked from 1915 till 1934 as a painter at PZH) and the designations "Gouda" and "Holland". The number 985 (a model or series number) is painted to the right of the PZH mark and inscribed in the clay (underlined). Two small xx-s and one larger X are also inscribed in the clay.

Condition: very good, there is very little wear to the glaze, which has a beautiful matte gloss. The colours of the decorations are bright and strong. The rim of the mouth of the vase has two small spots on the inside (see detail pictures) where the brown paint was damaged, so the underlying white cream glaze shines through. These spots have been retouched with the same or similar brown paint, most likely by a professional restorer. The foot of the vase also shows a professional restoration, most probably a chip to the lower rim that got repaired and painted over with some brown and blue paint (see detail pictures). These defects are not very noticeable, but have been taken into account for the price of the vase. Aside from this there are no other damages, cracks, hairlines or restorations. A light, even crazing can be noticed in the cream white parts of the vase (the unpainted parts where the background glaze is visible). This is normal for Gouda pieces of this age and in our opinion just adds character to the item.

A very beautiful and ornamental Gouda vase of good size that will match a variety of interiors, from classic to modern. If you love this vase, do not hesitate to buy it, because vases of this size with this pattern are only rarely offered. It may take a long time before a similar vase can be found on the market.

Please note that the pictures were taken with strong, bright lighting. Without much focused light on the vase, the colours will be more subdued. This is a specific feature of Gouda vases which needs to be taken into account.

Made by: Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland

Place of manufacture: Gouda, the Netherlands

Year of manufacture: 1929

Method of decoration: handpainted (matt glaze)

Size: height: 27,5 cm, diameter: 20,0 cm (capacity 4,1 litres)

Weight: 1,82 kg

Additional pictures of the object can be provided if required.

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About Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland:

Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (also known as "Plazuid" or PZH) was a pottery company located in the city of Gouda which played a leading role in the development of the Gouda art pottery style during the 1900-1920 period. The factory was founded in 1898 and produced till 1910 primarily high-quality art nouveau / Jugendstil style pottery. In 1909 it developed a matt glaze technique that became characteristic for Gouda style pottery in the following decades (up till then the decoration was often painted underglaze with a high gloss finish). Production was quite successful and around 1920 over 300 people were employed by the company. Many famous names in Dutch ceramic art have created designs for Zuid-Holland.

Decline came when during 1928 a yearlong labour strike of factory workers struck the Gouda pottery industry. After that conflict was resolved, the Great Depression of the 1930's kicked in. In reaction to this, production became oriented towards more simple designs and techniques and to the production of tableware instead of art pottery (under the "Plazuid" name). After WWII the factory continued its production. Delftware (Delft Blue and polychrome styles), which had always been produced by the factory alongside its Gouda styles, became more important. The company survived up till 1965, when rising labour costs and the competition of other Dutch ceramic factories such as Zenith and Goedewaagen forced a sudden closure.

More information on Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (and Gouda pottery in general) can be found on these English language websites: www.goudadesign.co.uk and https://www.architecturals.net/the-world-of-gouda-pottery/.

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This beautiful item will be carefully packed and send by tracked and insured mail.

If you buy multiple items from our shop in one purchase, we will try to combine the items into one parcel. Any excess shipping costs will be refunded.

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may contact us within 14 days from the delivery date to return the item. If the item is returned in its original condition, we will issue a refund for the total purchase price of the item (return shipping costs are however not covered).