Plateelbakkerij Zenith - Hand painted Decorative "snot nose" oil lamp by Zenith Gouda, 1920

Decorative hand painted "Snotneus" oil lamp made by Pateel bakery Zenith in Gouda in 1920
Made with a flat edge on the back and a hanging hole for wall mounting.
The oil lamp was designed by Aard Stolk (1900-1969) and is also signed on the bottom with the monogram AS (Aard Stolk), as well as the hand-painted mark of the maker on the bottom.

Plateelbakkerij Zenith Gouda existed from 1919 to 1984
The Gouda pottery company of Zenith originated from the pipe factory PJ van der Want
This family business has been making cast pipes (pressed in a brass mold) from father to son since 1749 and was located in the Keizerstraat in Gouda.
In 1917, the company decided to produce decorative pottery in addition to cast pipes.
From 1919 onwards the company name was changed to Plateel- en pijpenfabriek Zenith.
Decorated utilitarian and ornamental pottery was made, such as: vases, pots, candlesticks, smoke and liqueur sets, ashtrays, wall plates, clocks, lamp bases, bowls, clocks, inkwells, inkstands and pen holders.
The decorations were painted directly onto the white shard and then covered with a transparent glaze.
Zenith employed Aard Stolk (designer) and Dirk Sibbes (ceramic technician) on a permanent basis.
Jan van Schalk and Wim and Toon van Ham were hired on a freelance basis as designers and set designers.
In 1924 the factory switched to Gouds mat.
In 1925, Cris Agterberg worked briefly as a freelancer at Zenith.
During the crisis years of 1929-1940, sprayed glaze was developed, which enhanced the shape of the object and made a decorative painter unnecessary.
As a result, no painter's initials can be found on the crisis pottery.
After the strike by employees at the Gouda plateel factories (August 1928 and April 1929), including the Plateelbakkerij Zenith, and the subsequent crisis years, the exuberant matt-glazed decorations came to an end.
In the early 1930s many plate painters were dismissed.
Quieter, simpler decors came onto the market.
In 1980 there was a major fire in which the warehouse and archive were destroyed.
In 1984 Zenith closed its doors.