Princessehof Ceramics Museum
Encyclopedia
Princessehof Ceramics Museum (in Dutch
: Keramiekmuseum Princessehof) is a city museum of ceramics in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
. The museum's name comes from one of two buildings in which it is housed: a small palace built in 1693 and later occupied by Marie Louise, dowager Princess of Orange
. The other annexed building is the Papinga stins
, a former stronghold from the 15th century. The museum is of interest for its buildings, but also for its collection of tiles, pottery, and ceramic sculpture.
style. Later the building was split into three houses, and M.C. Escher was born in the middle house. The house later came into the hands of the Leeuwarden notary and art collectors Nanne Ottema (1874–1955) and his wife Grietje Kingma, who founded the museum during their lifetime in 1917.
Besides the Asian collection, there is also a wide range of Europe
an and some Islam
ic ceramics.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: Keramiekmuseum Princessehof) is a city museum of ceramics in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The museum's name comes from one of two buildings in which it is housed: a small palace built in 1693 and later occupied by Marie Louise, dowager Princess of Orange
Landgravine Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel
Landgravine Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel was a daughter of Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and Maria Amalia of Courland....
. The other annexed building is the Papinga stins
Stins
A stins is a former stronghold or villa in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands. Many stinsen carry the name "state."...
, a former stronghold from the 15th century. The museum is of interest for its buildings, but also for its collection of tiles, pottery, and ceramic sculpture.
History of the building
In 1731, the building was purchased by Marie Louise (known in Leeuwarden as Marijke Meu, 'Aunt Mary'), who was already a widow at that time. She began a collection of ceramics, and her collection forms part of the museum's collection, most notably in the Nassaukamer, a period dining room in BaroqueBaroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style. Later the building was split into three houses, and M.C. Escher was born in the middle house. The house later came into the hands of the Leeuwarden notary and art collectors Nanne Ottema (1874–1955) and his wife Grietje Kingma, who founded the museum during their lifetime in 1917.
Ceramics
The Ottema-Kingma Stichting keeps the tradition of the founders alive with an online database for the collection and associated library. This Stichting is also the formal owner of the Asian ceramics collection with items ranging from 2800 BC up to the 20th century.Besides the Asian collection, there is also a wide range of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an and some Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic ceramics.