Model plate "Korenbloem"

This plate is painted with a symmetrical design of stylized wheat and flowers and is by Theodoor Colenbrander (Dutch, 1871-1945). Colenbrander was active with the Rozenburg firm of The Hague in the mid-1880s, the period from which this plate dates. In unglazed painted earthenware, the plate has a matte finish and strong painterly quality to it. The reverse is inscribed faintly in pencil with the artist’s name and instructions for color selection. The plate likely served as a model for other craftsmen and artists in the factory to replicate, though no plates with this design are known to date. Painted, unfired designs by Colenbrander are rare in museums outside the Netherlands.

Colenbrander’s long career spanned the turn of the century. He was one of the leading designers of decorative arts, particular ceramics, in the Netherlands, mixing exotic influences in his work. He drew inspiration from Iznik tiles, Batik textiles, and Japanese prints to create memorable, unique designs.