Dutch Delft Set of Six Dinner Plates With Plants and Ribbon

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Description

Dutch Delft SFloral Festoons: Dutch Delft Plates with Ribbon and Plants

Object: Set of Six Dinner Plates
Origin: Delft, Netherlands
… Read more Dutch Delft SFloral Festoons: Dutch Delft Plates with Ribbon and Plants

Object: Set of Six Dinner Plates
Origin: Delft, Netherlands
Date: Circa 1765
Medium: Tin-Glazed Earthenware (Delft Faience)

Dimensions: Diameter 9 1/4 inches x 1 inch high.

This delightful set of six Dutch Delft plates represents the high period of polychrome tin-glazed earthenware production in the Netherlands. Dating to the mid-18th century, the set offers a charming departure from the more common blue and white Delft, showcasing a vibrant color palette of green, orange, blue, and yellow .

The central design of each plate features scattered green and orange plants, framed by a meandering ribbon band composed of alternating yellow and blue dot panels. This intricate design, which is repeated on the wide border, highlights the decorative virtuosity of the Delft painters. The use of multiple colors in a single piece, known as polychrome decoration, allowed Delftware to compete visually with the expensive, imported Chinese porcelain that was fashionable at the time.

Historical Context: Delft and the Age of Trade

By 1765, Delft had established itself as the leading European center for faience (tin-glazed earthenware). While Delftware initially rose to prominence by imitating Chinese blue and white porcelain—providing a local, accessible luxury—it soon developed its own distinct, ornate styles. The charming, almost folk-like arrangement of plants and ribbon seen here reflects the Rococo aesthetic popular across Europe, adapted for mass production. These plates, combining a light, appealing form with robust coloring, were everyday luxury items that brought fashionable artistry to the 18th-century European dining table.

(Ref: NY9199/nrrr) See less