拍品 340
340
An early Dutch Delft blue and white armorial dish
An early Dutch Delft blue and white armorial dish

CIRCA 1650-1670

细节
An early Dutch Delft blue and white armorial dish
Circa 1650-1670
Decorated with an elaborate helmetted foliage crest upholding a heraldic shield above the lettering: C.I.D.I
25.5 cm. (10 in.) diam.

拍品专文

This probably imaginary coat of arms is characteristic of a large group of Delft plates with similar pseudo-heraldry. It is unclear whether the letters can be read as initials or a sort of rebus. Such fanciful coat of arms must be seen in the light of the widespread custom among burghers of giving themselves a semi-noble status by sporting coats of arms. These plates may also have had a mocking meaning

Cf. F. Scholten, Dutch majolica & Delftware (1500-1700) from the Edwin van Drecht collection (Amsterdam 1993), p. 250, ill. 216 & 217

See illustration