JVV 0575
Utrecht, 1825-1850
The two polychrome rectangular tile plaques have indented corners and are painted with a shepherd and shepherdess in a landscape. In one plaque, the shepherd sits against a raised ledge with two trees, his staff behind him. He is conversing with the shepherdess who stands before him and holds her staff in her right hand. Both wear headgear, on hers a feather. They are surrounded by their sheep and a leaping deer with antlers and there is a tree in the background on the right. In the other plaque, the shepherd and shepherdess are carrying a basket containing a flower. With his left hand, he offers her another flower. They are surrounded by their sheep and a goat, with a tree in the background on the left. Both representations are framed in a blue border with a hole for suspension at the top. On the tile, a shepherd elegantly makes the acquaintance of a shepherdess. He has removed his hat and makes a deep bow before her. They are surrounded by sheep.
Dimensions: length 15,1 cm/5.94 in., width 13,1 cm/5.15 in., thickness 0,8 cm/0.31 in. (with hat)
Dimensions: length 15,2 cm/5.98 in., width 13,0 cm/5.11 in., thickness 0,8 cm/0.31 in. (with basket)
Dimensions: length 13.2 cm/5.20 in., width 13.2 cm/5.20 in., thickness 0.8 cm/0.31 in.
Explanatory note
Shepherds were a popular theme on tiles and were produced by almost every tile factory in the Northern Netherlands as early as the second half of the seventeenth century. Production continued until the early twentieth century. Shepherd tiles from Utrecht can be recognized by the typical little tree on the left or right of the tiles, and also by the colour combination of purple, blue, green and yellow. Occasionally such decors were also painted on slightly larger tile plaques and sold separately.
