Royal Delft Commemorative Plate Zuiderzee - Cornelis Lely - 1929

The tin glazed earthenware plate commemorating the death of Cornelis Lely , Dutch engineer and politician. He oversaw the passage of an act of parliament authorising construction of the Zuiderzee Works, a huge project – designed to his own plans – that turned the Zuiderzee into a lake (IJsselmeer) and made possible the conversion of a vast area of former seabed into dry land. The center of the plate decorated in shades of blue with Dutch lion within the  open fence  and in the back the map / chart  of the Zuiderzee surrounded  with floral swags. The border with the text:  

In Holland’s tuin de Leeuw nog staat - Bewonderend Lely’s groote daad. (In the Dutch garden de Lion is still standing Amazing Lely's great deed.)

Signed on the back in underglaze blue for:

DE PORCELEYNE FLES - ROYAL DELFT

DELFT - HOLLAND & AY  =  1929
Two painters worked on this plate.

Painter’s initials: VB  =  Willem Alexander Karel Hendrik Frederik van Baarsel.   
Employment dates: June 30th 1893 - 1948.

Painter’s initials: JM  =  J.C.W. Marijnissen.
Employment dates:1920-1958.

Diam.:  18,5 cm. (7,3 inches.)

Weight: 273 grams.