At TEFAF Maastricht 2011 Aronson Antiquairs of Amsterdam presented this year’s new collection of seventeenth and eighteenth Dutch Delftware, accompanied by the  publication In the Eye of the Beholder: Perspectives on Dutch Delftware, illustrating the sixty-five new acquisitions.

Highlights include several rare pairs of trompe l’œil tureens, naturalistically modeled in the shape of brightly colored fruits and vegetables, and in the form of animals. Highly unusual, this year Aronson Antiquairs presents two pairs of very fine ‘petit-feu’ duck tureens reunited.

One focus this year is the presentation of objects in their original surroundings. Various pieces related to the consumption of tea, coffee and spices have been photographed in interesting settings that support the intention to give a deeper understanding also of their cultural and historical background.

An essay on Dutch Delftware garnitures, sets of vases that became fashionable interior decoration from the 1690s onwards, gives insights in the multilayered relations with Asian art and also in the development of Dutch furniture styles.

The collection includes two very interesting money banks: a blue and manganese three-tier example, formed as three graduated rectangular boxes, probably made by a pottery specialized in the production of tiles (only two further examples of this unusual type are known); and a charming petit-feu money bank, surmounted by a seated maiden, holding a large gold coin.

The diversity of Dutch Delftware is illustrated by a collection of miniatures, formerly in The Old Salem Toy Museum, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Various Delft potters produced small and even miniature earthenware objects, so called “poppegoed” (‘doll’s wares’), sought-after collector’s items at their time as they are now.

A remarkable piece is the figure of a standing angel, the personification of ‘Fame’, Roman goddess of fame and rumor. It is a rare coincidence that Cohen & Cohen, dealers in Chinese Export Porcelain, are exhibiting a previously unrecorded Chinese porcelain figure apparently copied after the Delft original.

Without doubt, this years’ absolute highlight is an extremely rare is a pair of polychrome and gilt vases by Jacob Wemmersz. Hoppesteyn, dating from circa 1780-85. Of finest quality, painted with a stunning polychrome Chinoiserie decoration, these vases will be presented in a special vitrine, probably as breathtaking as the artifacts displayed in it.

Press images in high resolution can be downloaded from the download page.

A preview of the discussed highlights is also available on YouTube, see above.

As part of the Aronson Group, Aronson Concepts (www.aronsonconcepts.com) will present its latest publication at TEFAF 2011 entitled Dutch Delftware. The Van der Vorm Collection. This publication will be available for retail online from http://shop.aronson.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further information, via phone (+31 20 623 3103) or by email (mail@aronson.com).