Pair of brush backs
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Faience (tin-glazed earthenware)
Dimensions
Overall (each): 5 1/8 × 2 7/8 in. (13 × 7.3 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
Dutch
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness, 1930
Accession Number
30.135.82, .110
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming pair of brush backs, crafted in 18th-century Dutch faience—tin-glazed earthenwareexemplifies the era's blend of functionality and delicate artistry. Measuring just over 5 inches, these petite objects were likely designed as ornate backs for hair or clothes brushes, adorning dressing tables in prosperous Dutch households. The tin glaze, a hallmark of European ceramics from the Renaissance onward, created a smooth, brilliant white surface ideal for vibrant painted decorations, mimicking costly Chinese porcelain while using affordable local clay. Produced during the height of Dutch...