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 rare and evocative example is this pair of blue and white Budai Heshang flower holders, created in Delft around 1700, during the tenure of Lambertus van Eenhoorn at the famed De Metaale Pot (The Metal Pot) factory. Each is marked LVE 0 2 in blue, affirming their origin within this celebrated manufactory, known for its innovative forms and high-quality decoration.

Modeled in the shape of the Budai Heshang—affectionately known as the “Laughing Buddha”—these figures are sculpted in seated posture, their robes loosely draped to reveal the characteristically rounded belly. The faces are imbued with joyful expression, a feature central to Budai’s representation across artistic traditions. Each figure is ingeniously adapted as a functional flower holder, with a spout rising from the top of the head, delicately pierced and painted with floral sprigs. The robes are further adorned with stylized florets and leafy stems, all rendered in cobalt blue under a transparent glaze.

While Budai Heshang originated as a semi-legendary monk in Chinese Buddhist culture, often associated with Maitreya, the future Buddha, his imagery carried broad symbolic meanings of contentment, generosity, and good fortune. By the late seventeenth century, such figures were introduced into European decorative arts, inspired by increased cross-cultural exchange, particularly through the trading routes of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). In Delft, artists and craftsmen responded to this new visual vocabulary by reinterpreting revered forms within the framework of Dutch ceramic traditions.

Lambertus van Eenhoorn, who operated De Metaale Pot from 1691 until his death in 1721, played a pivotal role in expanding the artistic boundaries of Delftware. His workshop is known for its finely modeled figures and richly ornamented blue and white wares. The present pair of Budai Heshang flower holders is emblematic of that spirit of innovation: both sculptural and utilitarian, they reflect the Delft potters’ ability to assimilate foreign iconography while preserving their distinctive aesthetic.

The integration of Chinese-inspired motifs into Delftware was not mere imitation but a creative reimagining. The potters’ sensitivity to line, proportion, and surface decoration is evident in these figures, where the joyful energy of the Budai is translated into an object that is both decorative and functional. Such pieces would have appealed to collectors of the time who were fascinated by the so-called “exotic,” while also appreciating the technical mastery and imaginative breadth of Delft artisans.

This pair is more than a charming curiosity—it is a testimony to the broader currents of artistic and cultural exchange that defined the early modern period. Delft potters were not only responding to aesthetic trends but actively shaping them, creating objects that bridged traditions and appealed to the tastes of a sophisticated European clientele.

The enduring popularity of the Budai figure, even when adapted for a European context, underscores the universal appeal of his jovial nature and the human values he embodies: abundance, benevolence, and happiness. Transformed into flower holders, these figures acquire a new dimension of playfulness and practicality, while preserving their symbolic core.

 

 

Pair of Blue and White Budai Heshang Flower Holders
Delft, circa 1700

Each marked LVE 0 2 in blue for Lambertus van Eenhoorn, the owner of De Metaale Pot (The Metal Pot) factory from 1691 until 1721, or his widow Margaretha Teckmann from 1721 to 1724

Each modeled as a seated Budai Heshang, wearing a robe loosely draped to reveal his corpulent belly and patterned with florets, sprigs and leafy stems, from his head emerges the spout painted with floral sprigs and an openwork rim.

Heights: 10.1 cm. (4 in.)

Price: € 28.000 (appr. export US$ 30,000*)

* Excluding local taxes if applicable