• Press release for The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) Maastricht 2008

• The history of Aronson Antiquairs of Amsterdam

• General information:

Aronson Antiquairs was the first to introduce LED lighting on a large scale at TEFAF Maastricht 2008. All 54 showcases were converted and applied with over 1300 LED lighting units, an average of 25 per case. Compared to the previous halogen lighting, in total, the new lighting uses only a mere 20% of the energy of its halogen counterpart. Besides the large energy reduction, another advantage of this new technology is its modest temperature generation, which facilitated the climate control of the stand as well as in our Nieuwe Spiegelstraat gallery.

At TEFAF Maastricht 2008, Aronson also presented their latest  publication, Dutch Delftware 2008, illustrating and describing the new collection of which all 97 pieces were on view during the fair. This 128 page colour-illustrated catalogue provides an overview of the Dutch Delftware production between circa 1640 and 1840. Continuing to take advantage of 21st-century developments, the new method of high definition printing throughout this latest publication, sets this book apart from and above all of the previous publications. The ‘high definition’ or ‘staccato’ printing technique, prints without raster and, therefore, gives greater detail and depth to the illustrations.

Over the past year Aronson also embarked on an exciting new advertising campaign, which they are calling ‘Share the Emotion’. Instead of promoting a singular object, Aronson wants to advertise that with them it is about the personal relationships. The objects come alive only when the story behind them is shared by people who cherish them. 

After twelve years of relentless effort Aronson has finally been able to acquire the internet domain name aronson.com. Before you is the rebuilt website and additionally, they have opened an online extension of the gallery at shop.aronson.com. Over the past several years Aronson have noticed that there is a growing interest in selecting fine antiques over the internet. Especially since they have such a large and varied stock, but tend to bring less objects to the antiques shows, they decided to open an online extension of the gallery. The objects online are priced at the lower range of what Aronson has to offer (up to circa € 15.000), but the same high standards apply as for our existing gallery. The process is very secure and no credit card information is required.

Robert Aronson  Irene Aronson  Eva Bialystock  Suzanne Lambooy

Who is who at Aronson

Robert Aronson is the fifth Aronson in line since 1881 to continue the stronghold posisition of the Aronson company in 17th and 18th century Dutch Delftware ceramics. Robert joined the family business in 1990 and is currently director. He is also known as a specialist appearing in Tussen Kunst & Kitsch, the Dutch ‘Antiques Roadshow’. With the loss of his father, Dave Aronson, on January 5th 2007 the company has evolved over the past year to a new structure. In 2007 Aronson welcomed two new staff members to the company. First of all Eva Bialystock as assistant, and secondly Suzanne Lambooy (former specialist of European Ceramics and Glass at Christie’s Amsterdam) as research assistant. These two young ladies will help raise the business to a higher level of professionalism and scholarship. Irene Aronson will also join the team at the fair. As a never ceasing support to her late husband she remains a keystone in client relations.

Dutch Delftware is the name for ceramics produced in the Netherlands, which have an earthenware body applied with a white tin-glaze, more generally known as faience. The famous blue and white Delftware is made by painting the decoration on the white glaze with cobalt, a blue coloring metal oxide. With circa forty factories active in the 17th and 18th century Delft was the indisputable center of Dutch -probably even European- faience production.

In the early seventeenth century the Dutch already produced majolica, a coarse type of lead-glazed ceramics. With the arrival of the thin, purely white and shiny porcelain from Asia by the VOC the majolica potters were forced to improve their product and by the mid-seventeenth century this resulted in the Dutch Delftware faience. The clay was potted thinner, both the front and reverse of objects were coated in white tinglaze and better firing techniques were introduced. The Delftware production was a great succes, with the heyday of the blue and white decoration in the late seventeenth century. The eighteenth century is characterised by polychrome Delftware and the introduction of figures. Aronson Antiquairs specialises in both 17th and 18th century Dutch Delftware.

The Delft potters were masters at emulating Chinese porcelain, but how can you see the difference? The answer is simple: look at the rims of objects.

Porcelain has a white body with a vitrified transparent glaze. If any chips occur along the rim, these still remain to show the white porcelain body. Delftware has a yellow or brown earthenware body with a white glaze. If the white glaze is chipped off, the rims will reveal the yellow or brown body. Rims with glaze chipping are characteristic for Dutch Delftware. This is not considered damage, but part of the objects authenticity.