Lidded vase by Distel Amsterdam with a black bird design

Description

This vase with curved handles and a small lid was made by the Amsterdam pottery factory De Distel. This is model 29 and measures 34 cm (13.3 inch) high and 19 cm (7.5 inch) wide. The vase is beautifully painted with two black crow-like birds in an imaginative landscape full of form and colour. You see black and white areas of colour, which spiral out into blue and green shapes, and an ochre-yellow background. The whole has an almost psychedelic feel! The vase was made between 1895 and 1902. On the bottom, you can see the factory’s name: Distel, and the signature dJB or dB. This could refer to Cornelis de Bruin, but that is not certain. You’ll also see the 29/01, a reference to the model and decor number. Unfortunately, the vase is not dated. On the bottom is also a stamp of the Meentwijck Collection, to which this vase belonged. The covered vase is in great condition. Only a small hairline crack is present under one of the handles, and there’s a tiny chip on the sharp edge of one handle. The decor on this vase clearly illustrates the extensive experimentation with form and colour at Distel in the early years of production, in the quest for more standardized decors. The colour palette is also much lighter and more vibrant than Distel objects from later years, which are mainly dominated by dark blue, green, and brown. In short: a masterpiece from Distel Amsterdam.

This item is not for sale and belongs to my private collection.