An antique Dutch Delftware tile of a gentleman playing 'Colf'', or Het Kolven, a game similar to golf played in Holland in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The gentleman is posed in period clothing, with his 'Colf' club in hand. The club head differed in shape to the early Scottish longnose golf clubs, and although the shafts were wood, the heads were cast in metal.

Description:

This tin glazed tile has Ox head corners. The design and border can be dated to the early to mid 1600s. The tile is 13cm x 13cm square, and 11mm thick with chamfered edges. It has some pit marks and fine cracks in the glaze, as you would expect from a tile this early. A central crack runs through the tile, which is held firmly together by a leather patch adhered to the reverse. Pin marks to the front corners are visible, which were created in the firing process.

Condition:

A central crack runs through the image, and there is fine 'crazing' in the glaze, as well as some pit marks.  Firing pin marks in corners of the glaze, correct for this period of tile production. Some loss of glaze to the bottom left and top right corners,  and nicks to the four sides.

Please see images.

Size:

Sides 13 cms x 13 cms and thickness of approximately 11 mm.