An extremely rare manganese Dutch Delft 48-piece service, 18th C.

This is one of the largest Dutch Delft dinner services in existence. While Chinese porcelain examples are much more commonly encountered, we have not found many other existing services in Dutch Delftware, although there probably must. The easy access for wealthy Dutch patrons to Chinese imports, would have made it a logical choice for a dinner service, making the present set even more desirable.

Another service is in the Nelahozeves Castle collection in Bohemia in the Czech Republic, the so called "Lobkowicz service". Marked LC for Lambertus Cleffius, this is to be dated around 1685, and bears the monogram of Prince Wenzel Ferdinand Lobkowicz. It is described in "Delfts Aardewerk - Geschiedenis van een nationaal product - Deel 2" by Van Aken-Fehmers, on page 54. (see 2 added photos)

The entire service is skillfully decorated with thistles, with the tureen covers bearing a polychrome touch in the form of a lemon and an apple.
All pieces are marked AK above a star, for Albertus Kiell, the "De Witte Ster" workshop, Delft, 1762-1774.

The service consists of:
- One large dish of 38,2 cm.
- Another large dish of 34 cm.
- Thirteen plates of 25 cm.
- Thirteen plates of 22,5 cm.
- Four plates of 19 cm
- Four plates of 16 cm
- Three spittoons: H.: 11,5 cm
- Two small tureens: H.: 8 cm - L.: 19,5 cm - One of which possible added slightly later, as it is the only piece marked "A:K" instead of "AK".
- A square tray on feet: H.: 5 cm - L.: 28 cm
- A round strainer on feet: Dia.: 22,5 cm
- A pierced wet fruit tray on feet: L.: 27,5 cm - W.: 20 cm
- A tobacco box and cover: H.: 12,5 cm - Dia.: 13 cm
- A lemon-finial cover for a large tureen: L.: 32,5 cm
- A tureen and apple-finial cover: H.: 12 cm - L.: 18,5 cm
- A chafing dish (Dutch: pijpkomfoor): H.: 10 cm - Dia.: 19 cm - The only unmarked piece in the service.

Provenance: A private collection, Paris.