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The Rise and Fall of the Delft Potteries

During the sixteenth century, The Delft economy was driven by the textile industry and beer breweries. However, the combination of these two industries caused problems. The textile industry polluted the water, which was an essential ingredient for beer. Therefore, the city of Delft needed a new industry to stimulate the economy, what eventually became the…

antique polychrome stoves and braziers

Pair of Polychrome Stoves and Braziers

Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we present to you a pair of polychrome stoves and braziers, dated 1776. Foot stoves were used to warm the feet and were a common accessory in the Dutch household. The stoves were constructed with a wooden box that was ventilated…

antique polychrome delftware

Women in Domestic Interiors

The daily activities of women were commonly depicted in seventeenth-century Dutch genre paintings. These scenes, from a housewife quietly absorbed in work, to a woman enjoying musical entertainment illustrate the societal roles of women in the domestic space. In these private spaces, women acquired a new importance. While for some painters the home was the…

Attributes of the Guild of Saint Luke, Jan de Groot, 1735, Rijksmuseum (inv. no. RP-P-1906-3282)

The Delft Potters in the Guild of Saint Luke

Beginning in the middle ages, a guild system was in place to organize the urban crafts industry. Guilds primarily served to protect the economic interests of its members, but also provided a religious and social function. The types of guilds varied by each city, as they were formed according to specialization, such as the civic…

Painting Queen Mary II

The Queen’s Passion for Flowers

In 1677, Mary Stuart, daughter of James, Duke of York and future James II, arrived in Holland after a treacherous journey from England. She was fifteen years old, and had just married her cousin, William III, stadholder of Holland. With her animated and personable demeanor, the Dutch people quickly developed an adoration for Queen Mary.…

antique qilin at Aronson antiquairs

Qilin, a Mythical Beast

Chinese and other East Asian cultures placed great importance on the mythology of fantastical creatures such as the dragon, phoenix and black tortoise. Perhaps the most popular of the mythical beasts was the qilin, a creature that bestowed prosperity and serenity. Naturally, the qilin was portrayed on many porcelain wares in China and Japan, and…

Antique polychrome barber's bowl

Polychrome Fluted Oval Barber’s Bowl

Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this polychrome fluted barber’s bowl. It was made around 1765 in the city of Delft or Schiedam. Other than often assumed, the round or oval depression at the side of a barber's bowl was not intended…

Chinoiserie Bowl inspired delftware

Blue and White Chinoiserie Deep Bowl

Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this blue and white chinoiserie deep bowl. The bowl, which was made around 1670, is painted around the exterior with a continuous chinoiserie scene. Two pairs of Chinese men are seated before shrubbery and rocks, and in…

Antique Petit Feu Bakery Plate Aronson Antiquairs

Trades & Crafts

Genre painting enjoyed enormous popularity in Northern Europe, particularly in the seventeenth century, and especially in the Netherlands. Many of the Dutch practitioners elevated what was once considered a humble art form into a desirable subject, which even rivalled classically esteemed subjects such as history paintings. Genre painting depicts aspects of everyday life. Although subjects…

Delftware teapot Antique Aronson Antiquairs

The Hoppesteyn Family

Het Moriaenshooft (The Moor’s Head) factory was located in the Gasthuislaan in Zuidkant, an area in Delft with a large concentration of potteries. Although the founding date of the factory is unknown, the first owner was probably Jan Aelbrechtsz. Groenland, who acquired half of the company’s shares in 1658. There are three main phases that…

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