Sea Dragon, Early Delft Blue and White Tile, c. 1650

Regular price $140.00

Another week, another antique Delft tile (actually two today) because I've really fallen for them as a thing (though am very particular about the ones I like--this and the other I plucked from a nice collection of several dozen being offered by a dealer in southern Maine with many wonderful things). I splurged a bit on this one and the mermaid also listed (perfect companions), but not often one comes across a sea dragon! I really love the wavering line of the blue glaze, too, lending a sense of life and motion to the ripples of the sea around this creature, evincing the sense of it creating quite a wake as it swims along.  One of the first Delft tiles I bought and sold was an early one of a small dancing couple, rendered in a similarly wavery line, making them seem as if forever jiggling (mostly product of the impossibility of achieving a crisp line I believe); a month or two later a follower sent me a photo of the image tattoo-ed on his arm--and this one too I think would make a very excellent tattoo! 

5 3/16" x 5 3/16" and in good antique condition, with general edge wear and a bit of glaze loss just around the edges. A sticker on this one dated it c. 1650.