Tall vase of 40.5 cm by Distel Amsterdam, model 272

Description

This vase was made by the Dutch pottery company De Distel from Amsterdam between 1910 and 1920. The vase is narrow and tall, measuring 40.5 cm (15.9 inches) and 12 cm (4.7 inches) wide. It has the shape of a classic amphora with two short handles below the neck. The vase has a dark green background on which an abstract floral decoration is painted in white, yellow, brick red, and black. This is presumably a design by Bert Nienhuis, who was the artistic director at De Distel and also developed the matte pottery there. The very thin, graceful lines running the length of the vase are beautiful. If you look closely at the vase, you’ll see that the colour areas all have small holes or dimples, this happened in the fire proces. The vase is in good condition, but a hole has been drilled and sealed at the bottom. Presumably, the vase once served as a lamp base during its more than century of existence. On the bottom, you can also see the original Distel factory sticker, as well as the factory stamp.