Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) very large handpainted Delft covered vase

Very large (48,5 cm high) handpainted Delft blue covered vase made between 1898 and 1930 by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) in Gouda, the Netherlands. The six-sided vase is painted underglaze with a Delft style decoration showing a fantasy garden with flowers. The decoration is continuous and encircles the vase. The shoulders of the vase are decorated with Delft style ornaments. The lid is painted in a matching pattern and features a prominent 'foo-dog', a stylised Chinese guardian lion, placed on a rock. The painting is of a high quality, lively and energetic. The vase is ribbed, which adds extra sheen to the glaze. The inside of the vase is fully glazed.

The Delft blue Delftware of Zuid-Holland is noted for its very good quality, comparable with that of the Porceleyne Fles (Royal Delft). In comparison with the Porceleyne Fles, Zuid-Holland features a bit darker blue and the decorations are more expressive (maybe an influence from the Gouda style production, which often features expressive, organic decorations). The glaze of PZH also has a bit darker tint, which makes it look especially good at night under dimmed incandescent light.

The vase is signed at the bottom with a handpainted PZH mark (a house with a gate, the Lazarus gate of Gouda), the name of the factory ("Zuid-Holland"), the style classification ("Delft") and the city where PZH was based ("Gouda"). To the right of the PZH mark we find a letter B, which is most likely the painter's signature. We could not relate it to any known painter of PZH however. There is a small chance that the letter B is not a painter's signature, but a year letter. In that case the vase would have been produced in the second year of PZH's existence, which would be 1899. It seems more likely however that it is just the signature of an unidentified painter.

The fact that the vase does not state "Koninklijke" ("Royal") in its name, indicates that this vase was made before 1930, as PZH received in 1930 the right to use "Royal" in its name and used from then on this classification in its name.

Condition: the vase has some old professional restorations which are not very noticeable, but can be seen upon close inspection. The lid has several restorations to its outer and inner edge and also the rim and foot of the lower part of the vase have some restorations and small defects (see detail pictures). The price of the vase has been adjusted for this. Aside from this, the vase is in a very good condition. There is no visible wear to the glaze, which has a beautiful gloss and shows a fine, even crazing. The inside of the vase fully glazed and clean.

Three small stilt marks can be seen on the bottom of the vase, these are small marks left by the stilts where the vase was resting upon while being fired. These marks are not a defect, but a characteristic of the artisanal way these vases were produced.

A large and impressive covered vase of high-quality Delft, which will add class and style to any room and will fit in with a variety of interior styles, from classic to modern.

Made by: Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland

Place of manufacture: Gouda, the Netherlands

Year of manufacture: between 1898 and 1930

Method of decoration: handpainted (underglaze)

Size: height: 48,5 cm, width (point to point): 27,0 cm, depth: 24,0 cm (capacity exactly 10 litres)

Weight: 4,56 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 demanding higher wages struck the Gouda pottery industry. After that 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. 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 competition from 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 this English language website: www.goudadesign.co.uk.

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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).