Not lacquerware…
So it is not lacquerware. What is lacquerware anyhow? The tradition of lacquering dates back thousands of years and is mainly seen in Japan, Korea and China. Lacquerware objects are wood-based items coated with a shiny layer of natural resin obtained from the lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum).
This decorative layer can be made in multiple colors by adding pigments to the transparent resin. Before the wooden objects are lacquered, the surface can be carved or painted. Another decorative treatment is inlay work, with all kinds of materials such as shells or mother-of-pearl. Additionally, the lacquer can be made extra lustre through gold dust or silver pigments.
To get an impression, look at the short video clip to get an idea of its captivating and lustre look in the extension below.
But Delftware is always blue and white, right?
This color scheme is not necessarily what first comes to mind when thinking about Delftware, as most of us probably have in mind the famous blue and white pieces referred to as Delft Blue (Dutch: Delfts blauw) [fig.5]. Most people expect Dutch Delftware to be white and blue like Chinese wares, but it exists in a wide range of colors, including black.
This particular canister with a screw cap is executed in the black Delftware style: one of Delft’s rarest types of pottery. It was produced roughly around 1700-1720 in Holland: in the city of Delft to be exact. Whereas Blue Delftware is famed and considered the national pride of Holland, serving almost as a symbol of Dutch culture, Black Delftware is extremely rare and relatively undiscovered. Less than 70 objects executed in this style are known in total. On top of that, most are unmarked, so their provenance is not always clear.
Black Delftware tea canisters are usually decorated with chinoiserie decorations that take on the form of flowers, branches, birds and oriental landscapes.