JVV 0406
Delft, 1690-1700
The Peacock pottery [attributed to]
The octagonal baluster jar with lid is painted in polychrome with a peacock and a mythical dragon in a water landscape. On the shoulder are eight panels with flowers on an alternating green or blue fond. The short neck is decorated with blue ornaments. Around the foot are eight stylized blue and green leaves painted under a band of four flowers with leaves. The octagonal lid has a spherical knob. A decor of flowers with a bird is painted around it, the flat rim with leafy scrolls.
Dimensions: height 53 cm / 20.86 in., diameter 32 cm / 12.59 in.
Provenance: a Spanish noble family
Similar examples
A tall double gourd vase (47 cm / 18.50 in.) with a very similar decor with peacock and dragon is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (inv. no. C466-1927).
Explanatory note
At the end of the seventeenth century The Peacock pottery excelled in the production of floral decorations with birds, peacocks and dragons in the color scheme of blue, green and yellow, sometimes supplemented by red. In addition to covered jars and garnitures, this type of decor was also executed on a variety of objects such as double gourd vases, flower holders, beer mugs and dishware.
The red used is not an enamel paint fired onto the pot in the kiln, but a plain paint applied onto the pot after the firing process was completed. This technique is called ‘cold paint’. Cold paint is very vulnerable to wear and tear and almost always disappears over time. That part of it is still present on this pot is exceptional. The use of cold paint indicates that the Delft potters at the time were not yet able to develop red enamel paint.
Literature
T.M. Eliëns (ed.), Delfts aardewerk. Geschiedenis van een nationaal product, deel II, Zwolle/The Hague 2001
