Antique Gouda Damascus Vase PZH Holland c. 1909 Art Nouveau Double Handle Hand Painted Pottery

This is an antique Dutch Gouda pottery vase made by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland of Gouda, dating to approximately 1909–1917.

The vase is decorated in the factory’s distinctive Damascus pattern, one of the early matte-glazed decors designed under Daniël Harkink and introduced around 1909. Its richly coloured, hand-painted ornament combines flowing spirals, stylized organic forms and strong symmetrical divisions characteristic of late Dutch Art Nouveau design.

The upper section is decorated with bold black-outlined scrollwork in cream, ochre and warm rust, while the lower register features dramatic cobalt-blue, burnt-orange and light yellow motifs. Olive-green bands surround the neck, waist and base, and a pair of loop handles completes the amphora-like form. The matte surface gives the colours a particularly rich and muted appearance.

The underside is hand-marked with the décor name “Damascus,” the PZH Lazarus Gate factory emblem, “Holland,” and the painter’s monogram “A.P.” The painter represented by A.P. is documented in specialist Gouda pottery records, although their full identity remains unknown. The shape number 066 is also impressed and written on the underside.

This is a particularly attractive example of early twentieth-century Gouda art pottery, combining a substantial double-handled form with bold, beautifully balanced decoration.

Measurements

Height: 8 inches

Base diameter: 4 7/8 inches

Condition

Excellent condition, with no chips, cracks or repairs found. The original owner’s name “R Walter” is written in pencil on the unglazed base rim. Please examine the photographs closely, as they form an important part of the description.

A wonderful decorative piece for a collection of Gouda pottery, Dutch Art Nouveau ceramics or early European art pottery.