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On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Vase

1904 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The output of the short-lived and modest factory of Rozenburg, in The Hague, includes some of the most powerful examples of ceramics in the Art Nouveau style, which is typified by elongated organic shapes and sinuous, curling designs.
Established in 1883, the Rozenburg factory blossomed under the art director J. Juriaan Kok, who took up the post in 1895. Working with the chemist M.N. Engelen, in 1899 he introduced a delicate ceramic product, Eierschaalporselein or 'eggshell porcelain', which is almost identical in composition to English bone china. This was launched at the Paris Universal Exhibition the following year. It can be very thinly potted into flamboyant shapes by means of the slip-casting technique and displays a highly translucent pale ivory hue.
The brittleness of the ware is enhanced by Kok's elegant design, resulting in pieces that combine form and pattern, fragility and bright vibrant colour. This vase is typical of the faceted style of Rozenberg's work, which synthesizes angular and rounded forms. The decoration, executed by highly skilled painters, owes a debt to French and Belgian Art Nouveau, and Kok's effective use of blank space recalls Japanese principles of design.
The success of the Rozenburg factory was, in large part, dependent upon the vision of its art director. Kok left the firm in 1913 and production ceased the following year.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
'Eggshell' porcelain
Brief description
Vase of 'eggshell' porcelain, Dutch, 1904, designer J. Juriaan Kok, decoration painted by Samuel Schellink, made by Rozenburg, The Hague
Physical description
Vase of 'eggshell porcelain' decorated with orange and green floral design
Dimensions
  • Height: 32.0cm
  • Width: 10.3cm
  • Depth: 10.3cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
transfer-printed stork factory mark with 'Rozenburg den haag'. 'JS.' monogram and flag date mark for 1904, painter's mark for J. Schellink and a quareterd square and '696' painted in black
Credit line
Given in memory of Lavinia and Charles Handley-Read by Mr Thomas Stainton
Object history
Formerly in the Handley-Read Colln.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The output of the short-lived and modest factory of Rozenburg, in The Hague, includes some of the most powerful examples of ceramics in the Art Nouveau style, which is typified by elongated organic shapes and sinuous, curling designs.
Established in 1883, the Rozenburg factory blossomed under the art director J. Juriaan Kok, who took up the post in 1895. Working with the chemist M.N. Engelen, in 1899 he introduced a delicate ceramic product, Eierschaalporselein or 'eggshell porcelain', which is almost identical in composition to English bone china. This was launched at the Paris Universal Exhibition the following year. It can be very thinly potted into flamboyant shapes by means of the slip-casting technique and displays a highly translucent pale ivory hue.
The brittleness of the ware is enhanced by Kok's elegant design, resulting in pieces that combine form and pattern, fragility and bright vibrant colour. This vase is typical of the faceted style of Rozenberg's work, which synthesizes angular and rounded forms. The decoration, executed by highly skilled painters, owes a debt to French and Belgian Art Nouveau, and Kok's effective use of blank space recalls Japanese principles of design.
The success of the Rozenburg factory was, in large part, dependent upon the vision of its art director. Kok left the firm in 1913 and production ceased the following year.
Bibliographic references
  • Greenhalgh, Paul (Ed.), Art Nouveau: 1890-1914 . London: V&A Publications, 2000
  • Liefkes, Reino and Hilary Young (eds.) Masterpieces of World Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publishing, 2008 pp.124-125
Collection
Accession number
C.41-1972

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Record createdDecember 19, 2003
Record URL
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