Berbas vases, 1897-1900, design Adolf Le Comte, execution Thooft & Labouchère v/h De Porceleyne Fles, Delft, stoneware, porcelain. Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics. Photo: Erik & Petra Hesmerg
Pioneer Adolf Le Comte
In 1878, Adolf Le Comte was appointed artistic advisor at the De Porceleyne Fles earthenware factory. At first, he designed new decors in Renaissance style for the traditional Delftware. But around 1890, he came up with this type of vase, simple in shape and only provided with flow glazes. It was marketed under the name Berbas. Later, Berbas Reflet Métallique followed, with metallic glazes. Like French art potters before him, Le Comte had been inspired by Chinese and Japanese ceramics.