Uithangbord, beschilderd met schepen en de tekst: VEEL:DER:HANDE:SOORTEN:VAN//,DELFSE:PORSELEINEN:EN//ANDER:AARDE:WERK.//TE:KOOP.BY//KEIMPE.D.:VLASBLOEM

About this artwork

height 31 cm x width 31 cm

Art Historical Context

This 1778 shop sign or uithangbord, was created for Keimpe D. Vlasbloem’s business at the De Grieksche A factory in Delft. Measuring roughly 31 by 31 centimeters, the square board features painted ships alongside a clear Dutch text advertising “many different sorts of Delft porcelain and other earthenware for sale.” Such signs served as both advertisement and street decoration in 18th-century Dutch towns, guiding passersby to merchants dealing in the popular tin-glazed earthenware that had long been a Dutch specialty. De Grieksche A was one of Delft’s leading pottery workshops, active during the period when Delftware reached wide European markets. The maritime imagery on the sign likely alluded to the global trade networks that brought cobalt and other materials to the Netherlands and carried finished pieces abroad. Though the exact painting technique remains undocumented, the combination of bold lettering and ship motifs reflects the practical yet decorative style typical of commercial signage from this era. Today the piece offers a rare glimpse into the everyday commerce surrounding Delftware, reminding visitors that these objects were not only artistic achievements but also everyday goods promoted through lively public displays.