Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland - Vase - Earthenware

Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) – Hand-painted Gouda earthenware wall vase – Gouda – circa 1920s–1930s

Special hand-painted wall vase from Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH) in Gouda, the most renowned and internationally recognized producer of Gouda earthenware.

The back bears the characteristic Lazaruspoortje, the official factory mark of PZH. This emblem refers to the historic Lazarus Gate in Gouda (1609), which stood near the factory and grew into the quintessential recognizable mark of Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland.

In addition, the back features several authentic factory markings:
- the Lazarus Gate (PZH logo)
- a decor code
- the decorators' monograms, allowing the factory to identify the individual artisan who painted the piece
- a factory date mark, by which PZH recorded the production period.

The wall vase is richly executed with a typical Gouda earthenware decor of stylized flowers in warm shades of red, orange, green and gold on a cream-white background. The combination of the deep aubergine-brown glaze and the refined gold outlines is characteristic of the artistic quality for which PZH became known worldwide.

History
Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland, founded in 1898 in Gouda, grew into the most famous Dutch producer of art pottery. The factory gained international fame with its Jugendstil, Art Deco, and later Amsterdam School designs. The pieces were entirely hand-painted and exported to Europe, America and the Dutch East Indies.

Due to the combination of high quality, recognizable style, and well-documented marks, original PZH objects are today among the most sought-after Dutch ceramics by collectors.

Condition
- Good vintage condition.
- No visible restorations.
- Normal signs of use and aging consistent with the age.
- See photos for a full impression.

This mark confirms that the piece was manufactured by Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland (PZH), the most famous and dominant producer of traditional Gouda art pottery in the Netherlands.

* The House/Gate Symbol: The stylized house in the center represents the Lazarus Gate (Lazaruspoortje) in Gouda. Built in 1609, this historic archway stood near the factory site and served as the official corporate logo for PZH. [1, 3, 4]
* The In-House Codes:
* The letters "N.C." or "C" written around or inside the house denote the internal decor or pattern code used by the decorators.
* The handwritten letters above the gate ("F.M.") are the painter's monogram/initials, allowing the factory to track which individual artisan hand-painted this specific piece. [5, 6]
* The Arrow/Cross Symbol: The stylized anchor or crossed arrow symbol stamped below the house is a factory date mark, used by PZH to pinpoint the exact year of production during the early 1920s to 1930s. [7]