The collection of ceramics in the Rijksmuseum is somewhat underexposed. Everyone knows “het Rijks” of Rembrands “The Night Watch” and other paintings. But ceramics enthusiasts will also get their money’s worth! Men with beards, women in blue, white gold and much more…
How much more? 7,250 more to be exact… Because that’s how extensive the ceramics collection in the Rijksmuseum is. Reason enough to start this new year off right with a fresh dive into ceramics history.
Where do you dive in and what can you discover?
Ceramics in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum is the Dutch museum for national art and history. The collection is structured chronologically. On the ground floor you will find the pieces from 1100 to 1600, on the 2nd floor from 1600 to 1700 and on the 1st from 1800 to 1900. Finally, on the attic (3rd floor) are the latest works until approx. 1950.
In addition, there are special collections, including the Asian Pavilion and temporary exhibitions. If you want to go through the total collection in chronological order, you have to go up and down a lot of stairs. Fortunately, there are several places where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, and give your legs some rest.
Because the collection is not organized by technique or discipline, you will have to go through all historical periods to discover all the ceramics in the museum. After all, ceramic art is of all times.
Man and beard: Bearded man ceramic
We had come especially for the collection of German stoneware ceramics, especially the bearded man jars from the 16th and 17th centuries. This subset has somewhat faded into the background in the Rijks. Perhaps because it is not of national origin, but was fired in the area around Cologne-Frechen, Raeren and the Westerwald.
This early stoneware from Europe, however, was shipped and traded via the Netherlands all over the world. In addition, it also became popular in the Netherlands itself, according to many archaeological finds in the following centuries.
An excellent description of the collection was made by Ekhart Klinge in 1996 (“Duits Steengoed – German Stoneware”, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam). But seeing the collection up close is always better. And you don’t have to walk many stairs for this: the collection is on the ground floor.
Woman in blue: Delftware 1620-1850
If you are already walking around the museum as a ceramics lover, you should of course walk past the collection “Delffse Porceleyne”. The Rijks has the largest collection of this “national product”.
Delftware is almost synonymous with Delft blue. There are many blue women, children and other scenes to be found in cobalt. But the Dutch faience is not just blue. There is also a rich amount of multicolored ceramics to be found.
Jan Daniël van Dam has written a very interesting book about this collection and the history of Delft pottery (“Delffse Porceleyne”, 2004 Rijksmuseum).
The shining white gold
In addition to the Dutch “Porcelyne”, there is also real “white gold” to be found, such as the unique pieces from Meissen. These large animal sculptures made of real porcelain are technically exceptional. The large collection is in Dresden, but this small selection is definitely worth the effort.
But that is not the only porcelain in the ceramics collection. The Dutch nobility, like their European counterparts, did not shy away from porcelain bling bling. This überkitch tea service of porcelain and real gold presumably made for Tsarina Elisabeth bears witness to this.
Ceramics in the Rijksmuseum is diverse and have something for all tastes. Next time we will visit the Asian collection, because you have to leave something to be desired in the new year 🙂
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