Vintage (1960s) Delfts earthenware plates by Boch Royal Sphinx, set factory of two, Delft Belgium, blue and white, pastoral scenes

factory A pair of beautiful earthenware Royal Sphinx by Boch plates designed in the 1950s but produced in the 1960s and 1970s by the Belgium-based company. The pattern is Delfts aka Holland Delfts.

Both plates feature pastoral scenes with Dutch characters at the centre: One has a smiling woman carrying two buckets off fish on a yoke; she is framed by a traditional boat in the harbour and a windmill. The second has a boat on a river with a man rowing a woman intent on knitting; they are framed by a windmill and a small village.

These would be a lovely addition to a collection of Delft Blauw -- or a unique set of wall plates to jazz up a white farmhouse kitchen. Might make a very cool addition to a backsplash.

Measures:
6 1/2” (16.5 cm) diameter
1/2” (1.25 cm) deep

Backstamp:
Made for Royal Sphinx by Boch Delfts (1969 - 1979 mark)

Boch was established in Belgium by Jean-François Boch, one of main owners of Villeroy & Boch and led by Victor Boch. Production began immediately as the Boch family sold Victor ready-to-use copperplates.

In 1847, the company won a gold medal at the exhibition of the Belgian industry. By 1855 it employeed 300 workers in La Louvière (Keramis) and 100 in Tournai (Boch Freres) factory. The company went bankrupt in 1985

The Delft patterns celebrate the Dutch people, their traditions and landscapes in the handpainted blue tones on white background typical of this renowned ceramic. The original Delft blauw (blue) was produced in Holland's Delft region from the 17th century.