•D2547. Pair of Polychrome Plaques

Delft, circa 1750

Each painted in blue, green, manganese, iron-red, and yellow, with a flowering tree and two exotic birds perched on a branch, the self-molded frame decorated with alternating panels filled with floral elements, affixed at the top with a pair of leaf scrolls flanking the suspension hole.

DIMENSIONS
Height: 25 cm. (9.8 in.);
Width: 23 cm. (9 in.)

NOTE
The fascination with exotic, vividly colored birds captivated the European imagination for centuries. Among the most prized natural luxuries from Asia were the plumes of birds of paradise, which had been highly valued in regional trade networks for at least 5000 years before European contact in the late fifteenth century. These magnificent feathers were not only symbols of opulence but also played a role in early global trade, stimulating European demand for exotic avian imagery in decorative arts.

By the eighteenth century, Chinese porcelain adorned with depictions of exotic birds—often shown in lush landscapes teeming with vibrant floral plants—was immensely sought after in the Netherlands. These motifs, blending elements of realism and fantasy, reflected both an admiration for the natural world and a growing European appreciation for Asian artistic traditions. Dutch Delftware painters, influenced by these imported porcelains, reinterpreted the imagery through their own artistic lens, creating some of the most vividly painted plaques of the period. These Delftware plaques commonly depict birds perched on flowering branches, rendered in rich polychrome palettes, often incorporating elements of chinoiserie and Dutch stylistic conventions. The adaptation of these motifs in Delftware exemplifies the fluid exchange of artistic ideas between Asia and Europe in the early modern period, highlighting the role of global trade in shaping decorative traditions. The enduring appeal of these compositions speaks to a shared fascination with nature’s beauty, translated across cultures through the medium of ceramics.