Holland America Line tiles/tegels

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.

(to be continued)