GOUDA-DESIGN
Collectors Gallery 19 - Pictures 82, 83, 84 & 85 to 87
Picture 82 - an extremely interesting vase is presented here. Part of the varied history of Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland.
The owner, Chris from South Africa, tells us - "The vase was given as a wedding present to my grandparents in 1931. They lived in Rotterdam at the time. When they left the Netherlands in 1948, the vase remained with family until I brought it back to South Africa for my mother in 1986. It is 29.0cm high by 19.0cm diameter."
This is a design by Alphonse Hubert Decker, better known as Fons Decker. Born in Maastricht 1878 and died in Gouda in 1947. He was a designer for Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland. In the early 1930's there was a lot of experimental ceramics work, particularly with glazes. This experimental work became known as Crisis Work or Crisisgoed. (See Background below). Willem A. Muller and H.A. Verlée (and others) were involved with Decker in the decors for this work. A contraction of the two designers names was often used on some work - known as "Muvelée". Similarly with Leen Muller and Verlée was a simple decoration called "Vermu". Another designer of this style was Eta Lempke. She was working for Zuid-Holland from 1928 until about 1941/48. Her designs generally had the letter "P" followed by a number. Eta's work consisted of the usual vases and jugs but she was mainly noted for her plastique items of animals, dancers, etc. These are mainly in matte white but can be found in a single colour.
Fons Decker
was one of the leaders and his particular work and glaze was
in a series called "Fonso". It
is recognized by the "FO" and then the model number
you can see. They are from the 1932 to 1937 period. It is thought
the "A" you can see after the number 207 represents
the year of 1932. Then up to the letter "F" for 1937
so "207 F".
Background - in 1932 sales from Zuid-Holland fell sharply. This together with the general depression worldwide, made the director of Zuid-Holland, Willy Hoyng, dismiss some 160 painters. In order to make up for this loss and to try and maintain volume production, new coloured spray glazes were experimented with. The other factories also did this type of work, notably Zenith with the Willem Stuurman examples. Even after the recovery in the economy in 1937, the factories continued to make spray glazes. Sadly the war years intervened but in the 1950 period the Unique Métalique series was very popular.
 |
 |
Pictures 83 & 84 - enthusiastic collectors Doreen & George here show two more delightful PZH items from their varied collection. They are the authors of four articles on Collecting Dutch Delftware and soon to come is Collecting Dutch Delftware Part 5.
"This "Acherom" vase is by Gerrit Nicholaas Veerman who worked at PZH from 1918 to 1964. Interesting is Veerman's characteristic signature of a large 'G' with very small 'v'. The date of the vase is 1927 and is in excellent condition. It was bought at an Antiques Fair in Kendal here in the UK and we believe that it came from a collection in Indonesia."
Height is 19.0cm.
 |
 |
This vase, from PZH, is dated 1929 and was painted by Karel van de Heuvel, the 'HK' connected, one of his three known signatures. Van de Heuvel worked at PZH 1918 until the factory closed in 1964. The piece looks like an art deco vase with a hint of art nouveau. There is no pattern name and is quite probably one of Karel van de Heuvel's own designs. Many of the quality artists were given a free hand at creating some of their own patterns.
It is 30.0cm tall and is in excellent condition.
 |
 |
Pictures 85 to 87 - from the Southern Hemisphere in South Africa. Gerd shows four items from a growing collection. Gerd tells us - "I used to have a little 'Junk Shop' and once the bug bites, you cannot stop visiting the flea markets! I collect many things but I just liked the fresh look of these Gouda pieces. The Ivora bowl I found at a local car boot sale. I am looking to find some more."
In 1926 the Ivora factory contracted out work to PZH. All the items that PZH did for Ivora were given the name "Princess". That name can be seen on the back stamps. So a candlestick or a vase from that order would still be called "Princess" with the different decors identified by a 4 digit number.
Here this bowl from Gerd is identified by the decor number 1017. The number 567 being the mould number. Gerd has included the dimensions on the picture.
 |
 |
The "Corel" decor ash-tray and match holder (above) are from Plateelbakkerij Schoonhoven and date to about 1929/1930. You can see the 'PS' impressed into the ash-tray below the 303 mould number. On the match holder it is written under Corel.
The candlestick (below) was made by the Ivora factory in Gouda. The origins of the Ivora factory actually date back to 1630. The "Gouda style" pottery factory (Plateelbakkerij Ivora Firma P. van der Want Gzn) began in 1914 when clay pipe production ceased at the original factory. It eventually closed in 1965.
This beautiful candlestick in mould 397 (you can see this number scratched into the clay) dates to the mid 1920's. Decor name is "Nova 17".
