Beschreibung:

A PAIR OF VERY LARGE DUTCH DELFT BLUE AND WHITE NINE-TIERED PYRAMIDAL TULIPIERES (tulipières) , consisting of an obelisk finial and eight storeys of boxes above a large base - the large rectangular hollow quadrupod pedestal base with a square platform applied with four figures of light-blue recumbent calves painted with blue dots, pierced with holes to support the first tier, the sides of the base depicting four female figures dressed in flowing garments representing Four Virtues within rocaille scrolled cartouches flanked by mermaids, the figures clad in flowing garments standing on fruitvignettes with lion's masks; FAITH holding an open book and a cross, her foot rests on a stone block; HOPE standing on an anchor; LOVE or CHARITY holding a small child, two other children clustered beside her, one child with pointing finger, the other holding a toy windmill; JUSTICE is blindfolded and holding a pair of scales and a sword, the panels divided by vertical bands of fruit pending from bow ornaments, and horizontal sloping bands of foliage, the lower rim with a continuous dentilled band, on four large ball and claw feet, the base with a large circular opening 46 cm high, 27.5 cm wide - the first box with shoulders supporting four tubular openings to the corners modelled as grotesque monkey-type mascaroons, painted to the upper part with scantily clad cherubs picking flowers in lush gardens, the lower part painted with a sloping foliage band above a continuous lappet band, on four small feet 14 cm high, 26 cm wide - the second box similarly decorated to the preceding and painted to the upper part with birds in lush gardens, the lower part with a sloping foliage band above a continuous band of rosettes, with receded base 11 cm high, 20 cm wide - the third box similarly decorated to the preceding and painted to the upper part with herons with stretched necks, the lower part with a sloping foliage band above a continuous band of scrolls, with a receded base 11 cm high, 20 cm wide - the fourth box similarly decorated to the preceding and painted to the upper part with herons with bent necks, the lower part with a sloping foliage band above a continuous band of arched dots, with a receded base 10 cm high, 18 cm wide - the fifth box similarly decorated to the preceding and painted to the upper part with herons with turned necks, the lower part with a sloping foliage band above a continuous dentilled band, with a receded base 10 cm high, 15.5 cm wide - the sixth box similarly decorated to the preceding and painted to the upper part with large lappets, the lower part with a sloping foliage band above a continuous band of dentills and stylized leaves, with a receded base 9 cm high, 12 cm wide (the more recent tier 10 cm high, 13.5 cm wide) - the seventh box similarly decorated to the preceding and painted to the upper part with large lappets reserved with flowerheads, the lower part with a sloping foliage band above a continuous band of dentills, with a receded base 11 cm high, 10 cm wide - the obelisk finial with zig-zag panels, the upper part painted with lappets, the lower part with a sloping foliage band above a continuous band of scrolls, with a receded base 17 cm high, 8 cm wide all pieces numbered 1 or 2 (one obelisk finial new; one sixth box of later date) de Grieksche A , Adriaen Kocks circa 1690 126 cm high (piled up) These tulipières have representations of Four Virtues, which can be applied to monarchs, they are made up of the three 'theological virtues' faith, hope and charity (I Cor. 13:13), and one of the four 'cardinal virtues', justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance. The latter were formulated by Plato in the Republic (4:427 ff) as the virtues required of the citizens of the ideal city-state. The Church fathers sanctioned these as Christian. Faith here holds an open book and a cross as a representation of the Scriptures, the stone block on which her foot rests represents the unshakeable foundation. Hope stands on an