Tobacco jar
possibly De Drie Klokken
Category
Ceramics
Date
1770 - 1800
Materials
Ceramic, brass
Measurements
279 x 152 mm
Place of origin
Delft
Order this imageCollection
Mompesson House, Wiltshire
NT 723461.2
Summary
A tobacco jar, possibly De Drie Klokken, Delft, late 18th century. Painted with a stereotyped figure of a Native American smoking a pipe and seated on a pedestal beside a covered tobacco jar inscribed “VIOLET” before a tall leafy tobacco plant. To the right two ships under sail, and to the left a barrel revealing tobacco leaves beside other cargo vessels, one monogrammed VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, or Dutch East India Compay), all on a plateau beneath a cloudy sky. With a brass cover. A 'carotte' of tobacco was a tightly-rolled tobacco leaf, sometimes soaked in cinnamon, lavender or almond oils, then ground to make snuff.
Marks and inscriptions
Base: Three rhomboids with a line through each, somewhat reminiscent of the three bells of the manufacturer De Drie Klokken. As part of vase design: VOC and CAROTTE
Makers and roles
possibly De Drie Klokken, ceramic manufacturer