The Netherlands
Hoorn
Circa 1620 – 1640

A large Dutch Majolica Bowl with a decoration of an Amor or Cupid with a mask.
The bowl is standing on a footring and is shaped with a flat rim. In the bowl, we see a large decoration of an Amor or Cupid with a purple sash over his shoulder and holding an ornated mask in his left hand, standing on a blue and yellow ground with two plants on both sides. This Amor or Cupid is most likely a follower of Bacchus and is on its way to a masked parade or feast. The rim is decorated with a band of double blue and yellow dots.

Although the Amor, Cupid, and Putti decorations are typical for the Haarlem Verstraeten production, it was also produced in other cities such as Hoorn, as recent excavations show. In the pottery kiln waste were plates decorated with Amors, Cupids, and Putti with the addition of the stippled band as shown on this dish. This type of band decorations is not known on majolica from Haarlem. Therefore we can attribute this dish to the Hoorn production.

The is bowl is in a very good condition. The dish was broken into five pieces. One bigger shard and one small shared were missing and have been professionally restored. About 85% complete.

Lit.
West-Friese Archeologische Rapporten 93, Productieafval van de plateelbakkerij aan de Wortelvesten, C. P. Schrickx, Hoorn 2016.
Italiaanse Grotesken en Crabben in Haarlem, J. M. Baart, Haarlem 2008.
Nederlandse Majolica 1550 – 1650, Dr. P. Biesboer, Haarlem 1997.