This small vase was made around 1930 in Gouda at the Plateelbakkerij en Pijpenfabriek Zenith in Gouda. It is hand-painted: on the belly of the small vase are geometric motifs on a black background. The neck and belly have the colors orange, yellow, white and green. At the bottom of the neck is written: “Souvenir Bergen,” a village in the provinceNorth Holland. At the bottom is written: IB (presumably the painter’s signature) and the factory name Zenith Gouda.

Interior advice
This vase fits in both a classic and a modern interior. For example, you can place it on a (side) table, on a dresser or in a bookcase. You can also place it in a terrarium or under a glass bell.

About Plateelbakkerij en Pijpenfabriek Zenith (1915-1984)
In 1749 P.J. van der Want Azn. founded the Plateelbakkerij en Pijpenfabriek Zenith. This family business made pipes ever since and was located in Gouda. Because in the beginning of the 20th century there was little earnings in making pipes, the company changed its course in 1918: besides pipes, decorated utility and ornamental pottery was made such as vases, pots, smoking and liqueur sets, candlesticks, wall drills and clocks. In 1924 the factory switched to Gouda mat. With the onset of the crisis in 1929, many layoffs and strikes followed in Gouda.Willem Stuurman was hired as a designer in 1931 and created a new collection.Souvenir articles were also included in the production.After 1935, Delft blue, decorative pottery and tiles were also produced.In 1980 there was a major fire in which the warehouse and archives were lost.Due to declining sales, the pottery closed its doors for good.