Main image: Blue and White Rectangular Marine Plaque, Delft, circa 1660, former Aronson Collection (inv. no. 25045) Since 1975, organized to celebrate the 700 anniversary of Amsterdam, every five years, the waters of Amsterdam’s IJ transform into a sea of masts, sails, and maritime stories during SAIL Amsterdam—one of the largest nautical events in the…
Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this figurative group modeled as two gentlemen sitting at either end of a rowing boat, painted in yellow, iron-red and manganese, one holding two large wooden oars and wearing a manganese hat, a yellow-cuffed iron-red…
Models and Molds Today, the variety of forms in ceramics seems virtually limitless, especially with the aid of modern technologies like 3D printing. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, however, crafting ceramic objects that could not be thrown on a potter’s wheel demanded the expertise of a specialist known as the vormer (molder). This craftsman…
Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this pair of blue and white Budai Heshang flower holders. Among the more whimsical yet deeply meaningful forms in early eighteenth-century Dutch Delftware are figural vessels that blend sculptural ingenuity with symbolic resonance. A particularly…
An obelisk is a four-sided, tapering monolithic pillar that ascends with majestic precision, culminating in a pyramidion—a small, pointed pyramid at its peak. Originating in ancient Egypt, these towering forms have long captivated the imagination for their awe-inspiring height and celestial symbolism, earning them the moniker “skyscrapers of the past.”(1) Their impressive presence has fascinated…
Every month we present a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month we would like to show you this blue and white oval plaque, made around 1705. The plaque depicts a lively tavern scene. Peasants are reveling as they watch a couple dancing to the music of a horn or shawm player. A skeptical…
Every month, a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection is presented. This month, the focus is on a blue and white apothecary jar and cover, made around 1740. This apothecary jar, inscribed with “Ung. Opiatum,” is an unusually shaped example of Delftware used for storing opium-based ointments. Such preparations, known as Unguentum Opiatum, were…
History For a factory that has been in operation for nearly two centuries, surprisingly little has been documented about De Drie Klokken (The Three Bells) factory. However, through the analysis of literature, archival sources, and the finely crafted Delft faience produced at De Drie Klokken, we aim to develop a more comprehensive understanding of its…
Every month, a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection is presented. This month, the focus is on an early blue and white open work bowl, made around 1670. Early Dutch Delftware bowls are rare, and a bowl with pierced openwork of this early date is even more uncommon. The pierced openwork of the bowl…
Our profession is centered on research, discovery, and making connections. This month’s article recounts the extraordinary story of a magnificent 17th-century garniture set that was unexpectedly reunited at Aronson Antiques—a remarkable twist of fate one could only dream of. In early summer 2024, we had the privilege of acquiring a stunning pair of vases from…
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