Monumental vase by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland, model 5015 of 45 cm in height

Description

This vase was made by the Dutch pottery firm Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland from Gouda in the period 1902-1906. This is model 5015, a monumental vase of 45 cm or 17.7 inch in height and 19 cm or 7.4 inch wide. The vase has a broad, square base and a narrow round neck. Along the neck are incredibly two elegant, thin arms. The vase was painted by Willem Muller in a so-called ‘green’ Gouda decor. At first glance, the vase appears somewhat sparsely decorated. ‘Green’ Gouda decors are characterized by larger areas of colour — in this case green against a midnight blue background — and a modest amount of pink, red, and purple flowers, leaves and tendrills. But the longer you look, the better you see how beautifully the shapes of this decoration interplay with the design of the vase. The vase is clearly marked on the underside. You can see the words: Made in Zuid-Holland, the Lazarus Gate, and the signature of Willem Muller: WM. The model number is also scratched into the bottom: 5015. Models from the ‘5000 series’ were launched in 1902 by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) and were inspired by designs from the Rozenburg pottery factory in The Hague, PZH’s biggest competitor at the time. The vase’s beautiful long arms are the most fragile part of this design. And unfortunately, one of the arms has a horizontal crack. The other arm, like the rest of the vase, is in excellent condition.
Not for sale: private collection