Object of the Day: An Antique Dutch Advertising Tile

One of the main exports of the Netherlands, for centuries, has been painted tiles. So, it’s no wonder that the Dutch would use a tile for advertising purposes.


This tile features a transferred painting by Pieter de Hooch. The map that usually hangs on the rear wall in this picture has been replaced with an advertisement for “Netherlands Distilleries” and features text in both English and Dutch. The text reads: “Geneva, The Very Best Netherlands Distilleries formerly E. Kiderlen, Delft (Holland).”

I would guess that this piece dates to the early Twentieth Century and sports a maple frame from around the same time period. This unusual and attractive tile speaks of Dutch sensibilities and immediately gives the viewer a taste of something quintessentially of Holland.