Etappen- en verkeersdienst 1939-1940 c. 1940 - 1982

This Delftware plate was made by De Sphinx, likely during or shortly after the period it commemorates, 1939-1940. The plate’s inscription, “Etappen- en Verkeersdienst,” translates to “Supply and Transport Service.” The imagery – cannons, anchors, and a central star surrounding the Dutch Lion – suggests the coordinated effort of various military divisions. Such a plate likely functioned as a commemorative token for those who served. What interests the social historian is the institutional context of this seemingly simple object. Delftware had long been a symbol of Dutch national identity. By the late 1930s, as the threat of war loomed, industries turned to producing commemorative items that could bolster national pride and morale. The Rijksmuseum’s collection of such objects offers insight into the cultural responses to the war, and the ways in which national identity was mobilized. Further research into De Sphinx, and similar manufacturers, would provide a more comprehensive picture.