Vaas met decor van geraniums c. 1905 - 1915

These earthenware vases decorated with geraniums were produced by N.V. Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland, a Dutch pottery factory. The factory was founded in 1898 during a period of economic expansion and industrialization in the Netherlands. Factories like this one mass-produced decorative objects for the middle classes that combined the aesthetics of the Art Nouveau movement with traditional Dutch design. They reveal a culture in search of its national identity at a time when nationalist sentiments flourished throughout Europe. This pottery relates to the Arts and Crafts movement, which protested industrialization and mass production by emphasizing traditional craftsmanship. Here, the stylized geranium decoration reflects an interest in botany and the natural world. The imagery makes these vases not just decorative objects but also cultural artifacts that give us insight into Dutch society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Historical societies and archives are invaluable resources to understand the social and economic context surrounding these pieces.