De Plateelbakkerij “Zuid-Holland” 1897 – 1908

ANOTHER LOOK

An exhibition of the Keramisch Museum Goedewaagen and the  Ridgetop Collectie
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DISPLAY 1
With the start in 1897 the Plateelbakkerij ‘Zuid-Holland’ became the first company in the earthenware city of Gouda to produce decorated ornamental earthenware. This so-called Faience or plateel would remain in production in Gouda for almost 80 years.
DISPLAY 2
Production began with the type of decors that were also sold by competitors in the last years of the 19th century. But in 1898, the PZH would launch its first own decor type on the market that would become a great success. We now know it as the Gouda decor. It put Gouda on the international map as a ceramics city.
DISPLAY 3
Under the leadership of Egbert Estié the company expanded rapidly and introduced more new decor families. We find both the extremes in Art Nouveau styles, traditional Delft decors and products with typical Dutch decors as marine landscapes and figures in traditional costumes.
DISPLAY 4
In the years between 1900 and 1907 the Gouda decor would become the best selling decor family of the PZH. They introduced a large variety of decors on a rapidly expanding range of models.
DISPLAY 5
When the Hague Rozenburg presented their eggshell porcelain with great success at the Paris World Exhibition of 1900, this did not go unnoticed in Gouda. In 1901 the PZH brought out their P(orselain) decor, which after the Gouda decor would become their best selling decor family.
DISPLAY 6
With the introduction of the labor intensive P decors we also see an increase of women in the painting rooms. This was not only because they were very productive to paint these precisely, but also because the hourly wages for women were much lower than those of men.
DISPLAY 7
At the end of 1905 Egbert Estié had to sell his shares in his company and no longer had a role within the company. The Hoyng family gained control and adjusted the business operations and the decors to restore the growth of the company.
DISPLAY 8
In mid-1908, after a two-year apprenticeship, Willy Hoyng was appointed general manager, a role he would hold until his death in 1958. His drive for innovation would lead the company to great success.
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