Pair of Gouda pottery ewers, Model 31, with an NP decor with a blue flower

Description

These ewers were made by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland in Gouda during the period 1908-1910. It is Model 31, two jugs with bulbous bellies and round handles. They are painted in a beautiful NP decoration with blue flowers. NP decorations were designed by Willem Hartgring around 1906-1907 as a replacement for the P decorations that came onto the market in 1901. The P stands for porcelain, and NP decorations therefore refer to ‘new porcelain’. This decoration is characterized by the central focal point of a flower with green leaves, surrounded by imaginative patterns with hatched colour areas, thin flowing lines, and dots. It is clearly visible that the decoration on the reverse side is painted very sparingly. The dots on the bellies and at the top of the neck form a nice detail. The jugs are 21.6 cm (8.5 inch) high and 14.5 cm (5.7 inch) wide and are both in good condition. However, both have a visible pattern of craquelure and some minor light beige discoloration here and there, especially around the inside of the neck. No damage or restorations were found. The objects are clearly signed with the words: Zuid-Holland Gouda. On the bottom, you can also see the company logo of the Gouda pottery factory, in the shape of the Lazarus Gate. Furthermore, there is a reference to model: and decor number: 31/392 and a reference to the decor type: N.P. The vases are signed by an unknown pottery painter: NS.