Delft earthenware, since the seventeenth century a pre-eminent Dutch national product, is particularly widely known for its spectacular flower vases with several spouts. From about 1680 these vases, also called tulip holders, were put on the market in all colours, sizes and get-ups. Particularly beautiful examples have been spared, with as indisputable top pieces the flower holders with spouts ordered by the Oranjes and members of their court. In this publication the significance of the flower holder in the past and future is explored and some 150 examples of these unique Delft, Frisian and other flower holders are described and illustrated. Although the trend was set in Delft, the tulip vase ?rage' quickly caught on elsewhere. In this respect it speaks for itself that also in Friesland, with its rich ceramic tradition, flower vases were made. Outside the Netherlands flower vases with spouts belonged to the product assortment of Rouen and Berlin, for instance, while in England and Luxembourg Villeroy and Boch vases with spouts were made in creamware.
