Every month we present you a special object from the Aronson Antiquairs’ collection. This month, we would like to show you this pair of polychrome figures of prancing horses from circa 1770.

This pair of horses is marked for Johannes van Duijn, the owner of De Porceleyne Schotel (The Porcelain Dish) factory from 1764 to 1772, or his widow Van Duijn- Van Kampen, the owner of the factory from 1772 to 1773. Johannes and his son IJsbrand van Duijn were the last owners of De Porceleyne Schotel (The Porcelain Dish) factory. The objects produced during this final stage were mainly polychrome rond de bosse figures of an exceptional richness. This pair of polychrome figures of prancing horses is a wonderful example. This model relates to the arrival of the first modern circus in Holland, a novelty created by Philip Astley, an English sergeant who showcased his horse riding skills inside a large arena.

Pair of Polychrome Figures of Prancing Horses
Delft, circa 1770

Each marked VDuyn in blue for Johannes van Duijn, the owner of De Porceleyne Schotel (The Porcelain Dish) factory from 1764 to 1772, or his widow Van Duijn- Van Kampen, the owner of the factory from 1772 to 1773

Each with a blue-spotted white hide, a delineated mane and tail, and wearing a blue saddle over a saddle blanket patterned with blue stippling and scroll motif, and modeled affronté with one foreleg and the opposite hind leg raised above the green top of the blue chamfered rectangular base, its sides decorated with floral scrollwork and the ends with a demi-flowerhead on a blue dotted ground.

Height: 18.6 cm. (7.3 in.)

Provenance:
The H.C. Bout Collection, Belgium.