A pair of Dutch Delft two-tiered tulip vases, early 18th century

of bombé shape with ten nozzles, the double handles modelled as fable animals, each section decorated with Kakiemon flowers and birds, the reverse with baskets of flowers, the base of each section with a Delft Noir band, the top section with two moulded heads, the flaring feet with a blue and white flower decoration, some nozzles restored, the upper probably pyramid section missing (4)

The earliest examples of the typical Dutch Delft tulip vase have been manufactured around 1680. Various models are known, the most famous are the large blue and white vases in obelisk shape with up to ten tiers, set with nozzles, each made to house a single tulip flower.

The appearance of the tulip vase is closely related with the so-called 'tulpomania' in the Netherlands in the 17^th century. Actually the tulip is no genuine Dutch plant but according to popular history was imported by accident with a ship trading cloth from Istanbul to Antwerp in 1562. The flower became popular only by the end on the century when Carolus Clusius, professor of botanic at the University of Leiden experimented with the bulbs and succeeded in growing new flaming colourful specimen. Soon the tulip turned into a status symbol, only the rich were able to afford the rare flower, and also into an object of trade highly in demand. More than 500 different kinds of tulips were known in the 17^th century.

Around 1630 tulip bulbs became objects of speculation, great auctions were held with bulbs selling for ten times the price of an average Amsterdam house. This boom found a sudden end on a 'black Friday' in February 1637 when the tulip marked unexpectedly crashed.

The tulip vases are testimony of the special appreciation of the flower in the Netherlands and also of the Dutch wealth in the Golden Age. Objects of prestige, the precious flowers were decorated one by one in the nozzles of the vase, making an impressive pyramid of flowers sometimes up to more than a meter in height.

Probably the best known and most important factories of Delft tulip vases between 1690 and 1720 are De Griecksche A and De Metale Pot. The vase being offered bears the mark LVE  for Lambertus van Eenhoorn, owner of De Metale Pot from 1691 to 1721.