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: VA = Thomas van Arum
Emplyment dates 31 March 1890 - 1945
Painter VK = Antonius J. van Kampenhout
Employment dates: 1892 - 1942
Diam.: 18,3 cm. (7,2 inches.)
Weight: 313 grams.