Tile
ca. 1694 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Painted tin-glazed earthenware tiles were produced in vast quantities in The Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries. This example, however, is exceptional, both in terms of its large size and the quality of its decoration. It was one of a group produced for Mary II (ruled 1688-1694) by Adrianus Kocx's prestigious 'Greek A' factory in Delft. The tile is painted with a design probably by Daniel Marot (1661-1752), a Huguenot (French Protestant) emigré. Panels formed from four tiles were probably used to flank a doorway or fireplace.
Place
The Water Gallery was a Tudor building at Hampton Court near London that had been remodelled in contemporary style by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723). The travel writer Celia Fiennes (1662-1741), who visited it soon after 1694, said that the Queen took great delight in it. The Gallery 'opened into a balcony on to the water and was decked with china and fine pictures'. According to the writer and journalist Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), there was also a 'dairy, with all its conveniences, in which the Queen took great delight'. At the Water Gallery, Mary indulged her passion for delftware, which was presumably in part displayed in the 'Delft-Ware Closett' named in the building accounts. This tile was among the delftware supplied for Hampton Court, and was probably installed in the dairy or in one of the Queen's closets in the Water Gallery.
Subject Matter and Style
The design of the tile combines Classical motifs with Baroque exuberance. The essentially symmetrical structure of the strapwork restrains the more dynamic features such as the curling acanthus leaves and the figures of the drummer and trumpeter. Designs for William III (ruled 1688-1702) and Mary frequently included their initials, and here the 'WM' device is incorporated into the trumpeter's flag.
Painted tin-glazed earthenware tiles were produced in vast quantities in The Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries. This example, however, is exceptional, both in terms of its large size and the quality of its decoration. It was one of a group produced for Mary II (ruled 1688-1694) by Adrianus Kocx's prestigious 'Greek A' factory in Delft. The tile is painted with a design probably by Daniel Marot (1661-1752), a Huguenot (French Protestant) emigré. Panels formed from four tiles were probably used to flank a doorway or fireplace.
Place
The Water Gallery was a Tudor building at Hampton Court near London that had been remodelled in contemporary style by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723). The travel writer Celia Fiennes (1662-1741), who visited it soon after 1694, said that the Queen took great delight in it. The Gallery 'opened into a balcony on to the water and was decked with china and fine pictures'. According to the writer and journalist Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), there was also a 'dairy, with all its conveniences, in which the Queen took great delight'. At the Water Gallery, Mary indulged her passion for delftware, which was presumably in part displayed in the 'Delft-Ware Closett' named in the building accounts. This tile was among the delftware supplied for Hampton Court, and was probably installed in the dairy or in one of the Queen's closets in the Water Gallery.
Subject Matter and Style
The design of the tile combines Classical motifs with Baroque exuberance. The essentially symmetrical structure of the strapwork restrains the more dynamic features such as the curling acanthus leaves and the figures of the drummer and trumpeter. Designs for William III (ruled 1688-1702) and Mary frequently included their initials, and here the 'WM' device is incorporated into the trumpeter's flag.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tin-glazed earthenware, painted in blue |
| Brief description | Tile, 'Greek A' factory; earthenware, Delft, Netherlands; ca.1694. |
| Physical description | Tile, 'Greek A' factory; earthenware, |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed with AK in blue for Adrianus Kocx (died in Delft, The Netherlands, 1701) |
| Gallery label |
|
| Object history | Probably made to decorate Queen Mary II's apartments in the Water Gallery at Hampton Court. Probably after a design by Daniel Marot (born in Paris, 1661, died in The Hague, The Netherlands, 1752) Made in Delft, The Netherlands |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type Painted tin-glazed earthenware tiles were produced in vast quantities in The Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries. This example, however, is exceptional, both in terms of its large size and the quality of its decoration. It was one of a group produced for Mary II (ruled 1688-1694) by Adrianus Kocx's prestigious 'Greek A' factory in Delft. The tile is painted with a design probably by Daniel Marot (1661-1752), a Huguenot (French Protestant) emigré. Panels formed from four tiles were probably used to flank a doorway or fireplace. Place The Water Gallery was a Tudor building at Hampton Court near London that had been remodelled in contemporary style by Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723). The travel writer Celia Fiennes (1662-1741), who visited it soon after 1694, said that the Queen took great delight in it. The Gallery 'opened into a balcony on to the water and was decked with china and fine pictures'. According to the writer and journalist Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), there was also a 'dairy, with all its conveniences, in which the Queen took great delight'. At the Water Gallery, Mary indulged her passion for delftware, which was presumably in part displayed in the 'Delft-Ware Closett' named in the building accounts. This tile was among the delftware supplied for Hampton Court, and was probably installed in the dairy or in one of the Queen's closets in the Water Gallery. Subject Matter and Style The design of the tile combines Classical motifs with Baroque exuberance. The essentially symmetrical structure of the strapwork restrains the more dynamic features such as the curling acanthus leaves and the figures of the drummer and trumpeter. Designs for William III (ruled 1688-1702) and Mary frequently included their initials, and here the 'WM' device is incorporated into the trumpeter's flag. |
| Bibliographic reference | Doran, Susan. Royal River. Power Pageantry and the Thames. London: Scala Publishers Ltd. 2012. 75p, ill. cat. no. 43. ISBN 978-1-85759-700-4 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.13-1956 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 8, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
