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Sweetmeat set
Marked by: Samuel van Eenhoorn (Dutch), proprietor, The Greek A Factory (born 1655; active 1674–1686; died 1686)
Dutch (Delft)
about 1680
Medium/Technique
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
Diameter: 72.4 cm (28 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
The G. Ephis Collection—Museum purchase with funds donated anonymously, Charles Bain Hoyt Fund, John H. and Ernestine A. Payne Fund, Mary S. and Edward J. Holmes Fund, William Francis Warden Fund, Tamara Petrosian Davis Sculpture Fund, John Lowell Gardner Fund, Seth K. Sweetser Fund, H. E. Bolles Fund, and funds by exchange from the Kiyi and Edward M. Pflueger Collection-Bequest of Edward M. Pflueger and Gift of Kiyi Powers Pflueger
Accession Number2012.576.1-9
OUT ON LOAN
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsCeramics – Pottery – Earthenware
Based on Chinese porcelain examples, this star-shaped arrangement of small dishes may have held sweet and savory preserves or candied fruit to accompany dinner or dessert. Household inventories of the period refer to “preserve sets,” which probably served as table centerpieces in wealthy homes. Complete sets like this one are rare.
DescriptionEight lappet-shaped dishes surrounding an eight-pointed star-shaped central dish. All nine dishes are decorated with a vase containing flowering branches on which a bird is perched.
Marks
Conjoined SVE III on 8 dishes; SVE 4 on middle dish
InscriptionsPaper labels of "Collection G. Ephis / DEL 272" on each.
On center dish, paper label: "Faience europ. VIIIe, no. 175. Lille, Collection Williamson."
On center dish, paper label: "Faience europ. VIIIe, no. 175. Lille, Collection Williamson."
Provenance1987, sold by Aronson Antiquairs (dealer), Amsterdam, to the G. Ephis collection (private collector), France; 2012, sold by the G. Ephis collection to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 24, 2012).