Pottery
DECORATIVE POTTERY
Holland America Line had a very early tradition of giving gifts to its passengers and business associates. That is evident from special pottery editions from companies such as the Faïence- en Tegelfabriek Holland-Utrecht, founded in 1895 by Jan Willem Mijnlieff (1862-1937). The vases in this series were produced between 1897 and 1905 (source: Lijnvaart in herinnering verankerd, vol. 1, p. 136).
The first vase, with its wide, flat belly and constricted neck with two angular handles, features motifs such as a ship’s net, pulleys, and a waving flag on either side of the vase.
The second vase with the ship motifs is the prelude to a series of decorative pottery “with compliments of the Holland America Line”, which would continue in the 1950s with tile editions.
This factory also produced two slender vases with the anchor and HA motif, the tall cup painted in pastel colors and decorated with vines and grapes, and the belly vase.
The cup and saucer, the small bowl, and the predominantly yellow painted jar complement, as far as I know, the decorative pottery produced by Holland-Utrecht.
In 1906, Mijnlieff was forced to cease its unique production due to bankruptcy, after which Holland America Line placed orders with, among others, Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) in Gouda (1898-1965).
The PZH cups date from around 1906. The bright and vibrant colors of the decorations, featuring windmills, ships and farms, are striking.
The vase with a raised rim, the saucer, the round bowl, and the inkwell are also in the same striking colors, all dating from around 1908 and part of the “With compliments of the Holland America Line” series.
The linear decor of the cup and saucer was designed by Chris van der Hoef (1875-1933) and put into production by PZH around 1910.
PZH (popularly known as Plazuid) received the “Royal”designation in 1930. The ashtray on legs with the HAL logo and the two pipes (one of which is an ashtray) date from the 1950s.
(to be continued)
