Potterij Rembrandt (Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland) very large handpainted Delft Blue 'garlic-neck' vase

Very large (51 cm high) handpainted Delft Blue "garlic-neck" vase (the Dutch name for this type of vase is "knobbelvaas", which translates to "knob vase"), made under the "Potterij Rembrandt" brand name by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland in Gouda, the Netherlands. The vase is painted underglaze with a Delft style decoration showing a fantasy garden with flowers. It is a continuous decoration which encircles the vase. The base of the vase and the knob are decorated with Delft style ornaments. The painting is of a high quality, lively and energetic. The vase is ribbed, which adds an extra sheen to the glaze. The inside of the vase is fully glazed.

Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) has produced from 1925 till 1955 ceramics under a separate brand name "Potterij Rembrandt", alongside its main line of production which was marketed with the PZH name. Most of the production under the Potterij Rembrandt name was Gouda style art pottery, which was produced during the years 1925 and 1926. But sometimes also Delft Blue ceramics were produced by PZH with the Potterij Rembrandt name. This vase is a (rare) example of that Delftware.

This large Delft Blue "knobbelvaas" is in form and style very identical to other large Delft Blue vases that were produced by Zuid-Holland under its own brand name after WWII during the 1940s and 1950s. So our assumption is it was produced during that same period (1945-1955). 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 "Pottery Rembrandt Holland" mark, a model number (5053), the classifications "Delft Blue" and "Handpainted", and a painters signature (H) from an unidentified painter, but which is also seen on Gouda produced under the Potterij Rembrandt name during 1925-1926 at PZH and on Delft Blue items produced by PZH under its own name during the 1940s - 1950s).

This is a large, rare and very beautiful "knobbelvaas" 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: Potterij Rembrandt / Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland

Place of manufacture: Gouda, the Netherlands

Year of manufacture: most probably between 1945 and 1955

Method of decoration: handpainted (underglaze)

Size: height: 50,7 cm, diameter: 25,0 cm (capacity 8,5 litres)

Weight: 4,02 kg

Condition: excellent, there are no damages, cracks, hairlines or restorations. There is no visible wear to the glaze, which has a beautiful gloss. There is some light crazing visible in the glaze, which is normal for pieces of this age and in our opinion just adds character to the item. The inside of the vase is clean.

Additional pictures of the object can be provided if required.

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About Potterij Rembrandt:

Potterij Rembrandt started out as a special art pottery branch of the Westraven (Gebr. Ravesteyn) ceramic factory in Utrecht, the Netherlands. From 1906 to 1908 modern art pottery and tiles were produced there under the leadership of Mr. Pieter Cornelis Köhler, who had previously worked at PZH. The name Rembrandt was chosen because the founding year (1906) was exactly 300 years after the famous Dutch painter Rembrandt was born.

Lack of economic success caused Westraven to discontinue the art pottery activities in 1908, after which Köhler decided to continue with his own pottery under the same name in Nijmegen, together with other business partners. From 1908 till 1916 good quality art pottery was produced there in a variety of styles, most often in the Art Nouveau Gouda style, but there was also some production of the more traditional Delft Blue style.

Production came to a halt when WWI broke out on the continent. Köhler resumed production again under the "Potterij Rembrandt" name in 1920, but this time his pottery did not last for long: only two years. In 1925 Köhler decided to sell the brand name to PZH.


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 successfull 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 piece will be very securely packed and send by tracked and insured mail. If you buy multiple items from our shop, we will combine the shipping of these items. If the actual combined shipping costs are less than the shipping costs that you have already paid, we will refund the difference. So you will only pay the actual shipping costs.

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 full refund (return costs are however not covered).