D0514. Blue and White Deep Plate

Delft, circa 1690

Painted with two travelers walking toward another seated beneath a tree before a cliff on a river bank and observing sailboats before a tower and smaller buildings on the opposite bank, the narrow rim with  a border of blossoms and scrolling foliage.

Diameter: 22.1 cm. (8 11/16 in.)

Note:
This captivating blue and white deep plate from circa 1690 is marked with the signature “AK,” a mark commonly attributed to Adrianus Kocx, owner of De Grieksche A (The Greek A) factory from 1687 to 1701. However, an intriguing detail emerges when we consider the decoration style, not matching Kocx’ known works. If only it would have had a dot above the mark, indicating the letter ‘i’ for Jacob in the eighteenth century, this subtle distinction would have changed the attribution to Jacob van der Kool. Van der Kool assumed ownership of the factory from 1722 until 1758, possibly this plate was produced during his tenure.

Similar example:
A similarly marked plate with decoration by the same hand, and assuredly from the same series as the present example, is in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, and illustrated by Lahaussois, 1994, p. 30, no. 7.