Baroque exuberance: Delft flower vases at Chatsworth: a key element of the 1st Duke of Devonshire's interiors at Chatsworth is his remarkable collection of late-17th-century Delft flower vases. As Hannah Obee explains, their use and decoration provides a revealing insight into not only his taste but also his politics. From: Apollo | Date: June 1, 2008| Author: Obee, Hannah | COPYRIGHT 2008 Apollo Magazine Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The Devonshire Collection at Chatsworth is fortunate to include a substantial group of Dutch Delft flower holders acquired by the 4th Earl of Devonshire (later 1st Duke) during the reign of William III and Mary II. The collection has been given new prominence by the redisplay of the State Apartment, which is described on pp. 60-67. (1)

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The technique of dipping pottery in a white fin glaze on which to paint originated in Iraq in response to t...