D2621. Cruet Set

Delft, circa 1700

Marked R in blue for De Roos (The Rose) factory

DIMENSIONS
Height: 18.5 cm. (7.3 in.)

NOTE
This elegant cruet set exemplifies the refinement achieved by Delft factories around 1700, when tableware increasingly combined practical function with sophisticated ornamental appeal. Comprising vessels intended for oil and vinegar, the set reflects the growing importance of polite dining and table display within elite Dutch households, where condiments were presented as part of a carefully orchestrated visual ensemble.

Cruet sets of this type emerged in the late eventeenth century alongside changing dining customs, influenced by French court culture and the rise of multi-course meals. Delft potters responded to these developments by creating coordinated table accessories that echoed contemporary porcelain models. Such sets were often produced by leading factories and were valued for their decorative refinement as much as for their utility.

The decoration of the present set is executed in a delicate cobalt-blue palette on a luminous white ground. The surfaces are finely painted with floral sprays, scrolling foliage, and playful figural motifs, including putti, arranged in a light and rhythmic manner that complements the elegant silhouettes of the vessels. The subtle balance between open white space and ornament lends the set an overall sense of harmony and visual lightness.

This cruet set stands as a refined example of Delft’s ceramic production around 1700, illustrating the city’s ability to adapt international influences to local taste. It embodies the intersection of craftsmanship, domestic ritual, and aesthetic ambition that characterized Delftware at the turn of the eighteenth century, underscoring Delft’s role as a leading center of ceramic innovation during this formative period.