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De Porceleyne Fles (Royal Delft) Garlic-Mouth Vase

A 1951 Royal Delft hand-painted blue and white ceramic garlic-mouth vase with floral patterns and Joost Thooft markings on the base. - view 1
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Estimated value

$150 - $350

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Brand

Royal Delft

Era

1951

Origin

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Artist / Creator

PK (Painter's Initials)

Authenticity

Very High(90%)
44

DE PORCELEYNE FLES (ROYAL DELFT) GARLIC-MOUTH VASE: IDENTIFICATION

A tin-glazed earthenware vase featuring a characteristic bulbous 'garlic mouth' and an octagonal lobed body. Hand-painted in cobalt blue underglaze with traditional Dutch floral motifs including oversized peonies and scrolling foliage. The base bears the definitive 'Joost Thooft' mark: a stylized jar, the initials 'JT', and the handwritten city name 'Delft'.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Chinese Ming Dynasty16th-17th Century

The 'garlic mouth' (suantouping) shape and blue-on-white palette were originally inspired by Wanli period Chinese exports.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Dutch 'Pronkkamer' (display room) traditions where high-quality ceramics were exhibited as status symbols of hygiene and wealth.

Meaning Through Time

17th Century

A local Dutch alternative to impossibly expensive imported Chinese porcelain.

Post-1950

A definitive symbol of Dutch national identity and artisanal heritage for the global gift market.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

Production of this specific mark began after Joost Thooft purchased the De Porceleyne Fles factory in 1876, reviving the Dutch Delftware tradition using modern clay bodies. The date code 'BV' on the base indicates a production year of 1951, a period when the factory was celebrating its post-WWII ...
Production of this specific mark began after Joost Thooft purchased the De Porceleyne Fles factory in 1876, reviving the Dutch Delftware tradition using modern clay bodies. The date code 'BV' on the base indicates a production year of 1951, a period when the factory was celebrating its post-WWII reconstruction and resurgence in international exports.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

The 'Joost Thooft' mark on the base has been the factory's standard of authenticity since 1876, distinguishing 'Royal Delft' from dozens of imitation souvenir brands.

2

The 'BV' date code specifically identifies 1951 as the year of manufacture, following a sequential alphabetical system established by the factory in 1879.

SCARCITY

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 101 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Markings accurately match the 1951 'BV' date code format for De Porceleyne Fles.
  • Hand-painted brushwork quality aligns with factory standards from the mid-20th century.
  • Crazing pattern is consistent with aged tin-glazed earthenware.
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics & Porcelain Specialist

Ceramics Expert

Clear high-resolution images of the base markings allow for definitive dating and factory attribution using standard philatelic-style ceramic registers.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Marking 'JT' under a jar signifies Joost Thooft (Royal Delft).
  • 2Date code 'BV' definitively points to 1951.
  • 3The painter's initials 'PK' identify the specific artisan responsible for the floral decoration.
  • 4Model number '27' relates to the specific mold shape in the factory archives.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Inspect the interior of the neck for any 'spider' cracks not visible from the exterior.
  • →Search the Royal Delft Painter database for 'PK' to identify the specific artist.
  • →Clean the unglazed foot ring with a damp cloth to assess if the discoloration is surface dirt or permanent staining.

CONDITION & GRADE

Good (Grade 4/5)

Grading breakdown

Glaze integrity is high despite widespread crazing. The lack of visible rim chips—common on these flared shapes—maintains its marketability.

Condition

Extensive all-over crazing is present, which is typical for mid-20th-century Delft earthenware due to thermal expansion differences. Soiling is visible on the unglazed foot rim; no significant chips or structural cracks are evident from provided angles.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$150 - $350

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of 'The Fles' (Royal Delft), enthusiasts of Blue and White interiors, and Dutch heritage gift buyers.

What increases value

  • •Clarity of the Joost Thooft mark
  • •Absence of chips on the delicate scalloped rim
  • •Recognizable 'Garlic Mouth' collector's shape

What lowers value

  • •Expansion of crazing into structural cracks
  • •Loss of the hand-painted luster due to harsh chemical cleaning

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Earlier 19th-century date codes (vases from the 1880s command 3-4x premiums)
  • •Larger scale (over 30cm) and more complex multi-scene painting

Grade & condition

Condition of the scalloped rim, clarity of the artist's initials, and depth of the cobalt blue pigment.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

EW

ewon1
Wonderseeker•5 items

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