Bowl, Netherlands, 19th century

A ceramic footed bowl with Cenis green and red floral decorative pattern. The pattern, inspired by Ottoman tile design, was exclusively developed for export to the Middle East during the 19th century. The base is stamped with the maker’s mark “Petrus Regout & Co, Maastricht, Cenis, Made in Holland” and the Sphinx symbol. Petrus Regout was descendant of a Maastricht merchant family that has been active in the glass and earthenware trade since the 17th century. His father’s death forced Petrus to leave school at the age of fourteen to help his mother uphold the business. Eventually in 1836 he founded his own pottery brand that was to flourish.