Pair Dutch Delft Blue and White Covered Jars Circa 1770
$2,600.00
This pair of Dutch Delft blue and white covered jars, painted circa 1770, has the scale, clarity, and completeness that distinguish fine eighteenth-century examples. Fully composed on every side, they show careful planning and confident brushwork that allow them to command space in the round.
The front of each jar presents a chinoiserie landscape with a standing figure in a garden and a boy observing from a terrace, all framed within formal lambrequins and scrolling ornament. The reverse is equally considered, with flowering branches and a long-tailed bird that introduce movement and contrast.
The cobalt is handled with assurance, shifting from soft atmospheric washes to deeper saturated passages. The blue remains clear and lively, and its tonal variation gives dimension to the scenes while harmonizing with the warm, creamy tin-glazed ground. Subtle pooling at the brush edges adds energy without heaviness.
The softly faceted bodies strengthen the form and animate the painted surface as light moves across the planes. The octagonal covers are crowned with crisply modeled leopard finials, expressive and alert. The survival of both original covers with closely matched finials meaningfully strengthens the integrity of the pair.
At twelve and a half inches high and thirteen inches with their custom wood stands, the jars have a balanced and substantial presence. The strength of the cobalt and the clarity of the form give the pair a confident and settled presence.
Dimensions: 13 inches high with stand; jars 12.5 inches high by 6 inches wide by 4.5 inches deep
Condition: Excellent with tiny edge frits invisibly restored
Decoration: Hand-painted blue and white chinoiserie scenes with floral and lambrequin motifs
Material: Tin-glazed earthenware
Style: Crafted in the traditional 17th and 18th century Delft style
Origin: Netherlands
Date: Circa 1770
In stock
Background of Delft
The technique of making Delft was first described in writing by Gerrit Paape in “The Delft Pottery Maker,” written in 1794 and dedicated to Lambertus Sanderus, the owner of De Porceleyne Claeuw (The Porcelain Claw). Delft faience began in the 17th century. Much of the most beautiful Delft was produced in the Dutch city of Delft. The Delft potters began to coat their pots thoroughly in a white tin glaze. They then covered the white tin-glaze with a clear glaze, giving depth to the fired surface and smoothness to cobalt blues. Over time they created a good resemblance to porcelain. By circa 1650, the technical skills of the potters and painters were much improved, and Delft began its golden age.
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