Shining the Light on Beloved Delft Design

My first experience with blue and white ceramics was my grandma's tea set that she used to serve me hot cocoa during our "tea time." The stark white cups with their swirling blue designs all classy, dainty, and elegant epitomized everything a little lady is supposed to represent.  Maybe it was my Southern upbringing but the blue and white designs known as Delft, seemed to be a requisite pattern in home design where I grew up.

[caption id="attachment_1012" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Vintage Delftware tea set photo from Rubylane[/caption]

Though I'd like to lay claim to discovering its virtues, the Dutch own that distinction. Dutch potters in the late 1500s began handcrafting the blue and white stoneware depicting scenes from the Dutch countryside. Revered by both royalty and the masses, Delftware was quite popular from the 1600s to 1800s until mass production brought about its devaluation and demise.

Today, Delftware is enjoying a renewed appreciation for its timeless, trendless, universal appeal thanks to modern day artisans such as Jacco Maris, a lighting designer whose most recent creation is the Montone Chandelier in Delft.

[caption id="attachment_1010" align="aligncenter" width="560"] stainless steel Montone chandelier handpainted in Delft, designed by Jacco Maris with LED light bulbs available from Global Lighting[/caption]

"In Holland, the first thing you associate with ceramic is the tradition of Delft design. Fireplaces, floors and walls would be covered in Delft tile. The memories are an intimate part of growing up Dutch," says Maris, who etches his Delft patterns on white-coated twisted stainless steel strips that give the Montone Chandelier its sculptural shape. The name Montone is Italian for ram and evocative of the chandelier's shape.

[caption id="attachment_1008" align="aligncenter" width="560"] delft pattern handpainted by Dutch artists Ben Quaedvl and Frank De Wit[/caption]

The Delft version of the Montone is the product of a collaboration with two Dutch artists Frank De Wit and Ben Quaedvl. The entire light is created by hand in the Jacco Maris studio located in Breda, the Netherlands. The Montone chandelier is available in oval, round and triangular shapes.

Maris says his Montone chandelier in Delft can work in either a very traditional setting or a very modern one. "The chandelier merges these two styles with the painted surface of Dutch imagery and bent metal. The light is a dramatic statement. It can become the focal point of the room, like a piece of sculptural art," says Maris.  Much of Maris’ work aims to evoke an emotional response that taps sentimental attachments to sensory experiences.

"There is great pride in The Netherlands for our heritage and when we can integrate a traditional design with modern materials it allows us to understand our traditions in a whole new way. For people outside of the Netherlands and Europe the light is a magical design statement, and people seem to appreciate the unique shape and fluidity," says Maris.

[caption id="attachment_1006" align="alignleft" width="336"] Jacco Maris, Lighting Designer[/caption]

 

Lighting, once an afterthought in home design, is now a defining feature in living spaces. Maris sees the Montone Chandelier as a sculptured light design that defines or redefines a space immensely. "We believe in harmony where classic design meets modern design. The Montone can influence a very classical interior and bring a more modern touch to the total atmosphere. Lighting should contribute as much to a space on as when it's off, " says Maris.

The Montone chandelier is available in North America from Global Lighting.

What's having a moment in home decor typically tracks what's trending in fashion as well. The New York Times  recently did an article on Delft-ware inspired couture from fashion houses such as Prada, Valentino and Rodarte hitting the runways recently. The crisp, eye-catching, whimsical Delft designs touch something visceral in us that keeps it forever in style.