Description:
Dutch delft dish decorated in cobalt blue with images of William III (1650-1702)and Mary II (1662-1694), which were popular decoration for both fancy and simple delftware pieces. Mary II was the eldest daughter of James II (1633-1701), and her Dutch husband, William of Orange (who was also Stadholder of the United Provinces from 1672-1702) was the great-nephew of Charles I. William and Mary jointly ascended the throne in 1689 on the invitation of the English parliament after the Bloodless or Glorious Revolution of 1688 resulted in the flight of James II to France; they were the only dual monarchy in British history. Their tenure transformed the rule by the divine right of kings to that of a constitutional monarchy. The English public embraced Mary, whom they considered lovely, but William’s foreign birth, natural reserve, and ill health won him few admirers. Fueling William’s unpopularity was his involvement in foreign wars that increased England’s national debt to £12 million in 1700. The half-length figures of William and Mary appear in the well; William is wearing a crown and carrying sceptre and Mary is wearing a crown. The initials "KWOJ" + "KGVB" appear below the figures, which stand for "Koning Willem of Orange" (King William of Orange) and "Koningen van Groot Britannien" (King of Great Britain). Plates like this one, with its double portraits and chinoiserie border pattern of stylized rocks and foliage, were made in large quantities in both Holland and England. Many of these Dutch dishes were produced for the English market between 1689 and Mary's death in 1694; and some continued to be produced as commemorative items until William's death in 1702. There are three stilt marks on the back.
Subjects:
Pottery; glaze (coating by location) Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2034 |
