Superb Art Deco carafe with a ceramic handle from Gouda (Netherlands). This magnificent item dates from the 1920s. It was produced by the Zuid Holland pottery in Gouda.
This carafe is signed on the bottom with a hand-painted PZH mark (a house with a door, the Gouda Lazarus gate), a model or series number (54), a size (2/3?), the name of the decor (Beek), a year symbol (?) as well as the month number of the vase's production (?), a painter's signature (AYR?) and the designations "Gouda" and "Zuid Holland". In addition, some inscribed figures and letters can be vaguely seen, among which a "B" and "Z" are readable. On the base, there is still a sticker marking "Zuid-Holland Gouda".
The carafe is hand-painted and the decor used is called Beek. The technique is that of a matte glaze, meaning that the decorations were not painted underglaze (under a transparent glaze), but were painted on a cream-white glaze background and fused with this glaze during a second firing. This process is similar to the creation of tin-glazed Delftware and was first adopted by PZH for Gouda-style earthenware in 1909. The interior of the vase is also fully glazed.
The carafe is closed by a perforated ceramic cone finished with a cork stopper.
Very attractive matching colors: green, rust, cobalt blue, brown, black and cream white, and stylized Art Deco motifs. Very elegant!
It is in excellent condition, there are no cracks or chips in the outer ceramic (just a tiny mark of wear/rubbing from a string that was used to hang it (?) right above the conical stopper (see photo), a few very small marks of wear inside the neck, and some age-related wear on the easily replaceable cork stopper).
It has retained all the vibrancy and freshness of its satin colors.
This is an authentic and rare item.
Dimensions: height with conical stopper 28 cm, width with handle 15 cm, base width 8 cm.
Carefully packed and shipped.
Free delivery in Belgium, France, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Available for any further information requested.
Invoice available upon request.