An Icon of Dutch Delftware Joins the Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Wondrous Pyramidal Flower Vase by Adrianus Kocx
An Icon of Dutch Delftware Joins the Collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art

A magnificent late seventeenth-century pyramidal flower vase from De Grieksche A (The Greek A Factory) under the direction of Adrianus Kocx has recently entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Standing 95 centimeters tall, this exceptional blue and white vase exemplifies both the artistic ambition and technical mastery of Delft’s Golden Age.

Presented by Aronson Antiquairs at TEFAF Maastricht in 2024, the vase immediately drew the attention of Ada de Wit, Ellen S. and Bruce V. Mavec Curator of Decorative Arts at the Cleveland Museum of Art. “We have a strong collection of European ceramics,” she noted, “but lacked a major example of Delftware.” Upon viewing the piece, she recognized its superb quality and historical importance, marking it as an essential addition to the museum’s renowned decorative arts collection.

Royal Patronage and International Appeal
The pyramidal flower vase—architectural, imaginative, and unmistakably Dutch—was one of the most innovative forms produced in Delft around 1690. Created during the reign of William III and Mary II, it reflects the royal taste that shaped the period’s aesthetic exchange between the Netherlands and England.

Queen Mary II, an enthusiastic patron of De Grieksche A, transformed Delftware into a symbol of refinement and cultural prestige. “Once Mary became a client,” explains Robert Aronson, “the factory recognized the extraordinary potential of royal demand, inspiring both innovation and imitation among her circle.” Despite England’s embargo on Delftware imports, Adrianus Kocx is known to have maintained direct correspondence with the queen, who ensured these Dutch creations reached her palaces at Hampton Court and Kensington.

From Royal Palaces to a Modern Museum
The vase’s intricate design—with its hexagonal base, stacked tiers, and delicate spouts for flowers—combines architectural balance with whimsical ornamentation, including animal motifs and scrolling foliage. It exemplifies Delft’s ability to transform utilitarian form into artistic marvel.

Over the centuries, the vase’s journey continued. In the twentieth century, it was owned by the celebrated photographer Sir Cecil Beaton, who displayed it prominently in his home. Now, in its new setting at the Cleveland Museum of Art, the flower pyramid once again bridges art and life. Installed with delicately crafted paper flowers by artist Quynh Nguyen, it evokes both the grandeur of seventeenth-century Dutch design and the enduring vitality of Delftware as a living art form.

At Aronson Antiquairs, we are proud to see this remarkable object join one of America’s foremost art museums, where it will continue to inspire new generations of visitors—an enduring testament to the beauty, ingenuity, and cultural resonance of Dutch Delftware.

Link to article on TEFAF website