Sophie von der Goltz
Head of Sale
Lot 40
A very rare Dutch Delftware dog kennel, dated 1725
1 December 2025, 13:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£10,000 - £15,000
Ask about this lot
Sebastian Kuhn
Department Director
Nette Megens
Head of Department, Director
Raphael Machiels
Associate Specialist
A very rare Dutch Delftware dog kennel, dated 1725
Each side decorated with a different scene, the front with stepped gables painted with portrait medallions against a floral ground, the inside modelled with a Fo-dog seated inside the kennel, two hunting scenes after Ridinger, the back with a Dutch mercantile ship at sea, the top with two mythological scenes and portraits within scrolled cartouches, all executed in blue enamels, 12.4cm long, 9cm wide, 13cm high, star for De Witte Ster factory and initials C.B. for Cornelis Brouwer over '1725/3/16'
Footnotes
Provenance
With E & H Manners, 2023
Literature
White, Mary, People at the Whites' House, Vol.5, 2024, p.166-169
This unique object is a rarity in the long history of Dutch delftware. The diverse motifs - from portraiture to maritime and hunting scenes - coupled with the exceptional quality of painting make for a technical and artistic tour-de-force. Furthermore, the decorative elements that adorn the kennel reflect the globalised world of the early 18th century, at the centre of which sat the Dutch Republic. The flotilla of merchant ships flying the Dutch flag on the rear of the kennel along with the curious presence of a Chinese lion-dog (or 'Foo'), a mythical creature of Buddhist origin, also testify to the importance of the trade in Chinese porcelain, the lion-dog being a recurring subject in blanc-de-chine wares from Dehua destined for the European market.
Cornelis Brouwer was the owner of De Witte Ster ('The White Star') from 1724-38. Brouwer joined the Dutch East India Company as a surgeon in 1704 and spent long stretches of time in Batavia over the next decade, returning to the Netherlands in 1714. Upon his return, he purchased the Delft factory De Porceleyne Schotel, only to sell it in 1723 in order to take ownership of De Witte Ster.
Important Notice to Buyers
Condition is not specified in the lot cataloguing. Please request a condition report.