Black Dutch Delftware lion

ca. 1700-1710

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Origin:
Delft, factory 'De Metalen Pot'
Date:
ca. 1700-1710
Dimensions:
17.5 x 16 x 10.5 cm
Master:
Lambertus van Eenhoorn
Marked:
-

Price on request

On a rectangular base with cannons is a recumbent lion clasping a globe between its paws. The four feet upon which the object rests are naturalistically modelled in the form of a lion’s paw. The lion is decorated in the grand-feu colors of blue, green, and iron red while the base is shiny black, with the characteristic decoration of yellow springs which is strongly reminiscent of Japanese lacquer work. The deep black ground, for which considerable technical skill was required, was best developed by Van Eenhoorn. The “Grieksche A” factory chiefly applied a special “outlining” technique (uitsparingstechniek) to its black wares, which produced a different effect.

It is highly likely that such lions, of which there are surviving pairs, were placed on a writing table as a symbol of power. The same type of lions is found on the royal tulip vase in Het Loo, bearing the monogram of King-Stadhouder Willem III. The present lion is unmarked, however based on the brilliance of the black color it has been attributed to ”De Metaale Pot” factory.

There is, however, an extant lion in cachemire colours, marked APK, from which we can conclude that there was a possible exchange of moulds between the ”De Metaale Pot” and “De Grieksche A” factories. This should come as no surprise since Adriaen Kocks (of De Grieksche A) was the brother-in-law of Lambertus van Eenhoorn (De Metaale Pot) and it is unlikely that there was any form of cutthroat competition between the two potteries. It is known that Kocks stood guarantee for his brother-in-law and that he had on several occasions rescued him from a difficult situation.

Literature:

Dr.Monika Kopplin. Schwartz Porzellan Münster, 2003.

Mak van Waay, auction 21-23 December 1938 no: 31 with ill.

Drs. Marion S. van Aken Fehmers / Dr. Loet Schledorn. Delfts aardewerk, de geschiedenis van een nationaal product. (1999) p. 158.

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