Jan and John Maggs Antiques

A Tale of a Tile

We recently received an Email from the Netherlands. The following is a transcription of the dialogue that ensued.

Thursday, November 1; 6:48 p.m.

Dear Jan & John,

on Oct. 17th, I visited your online-shop for the first time. This visit was a very pleasant one - I actually had the sense of walking around in your shop (beautiful old barn!), and was delighted by the wonderful pieces of furniture (both colonial and european), almost close enough to touch (fine photographs!). You have certainly found a way to make your guests feel at home.

However, my main interest was focused on your collection of Dutch tiles [through Google, I was eventually led to your site]. At present, I am studying that specific type of Dutch tiles, which have 'sea-creatures' as a motif. To my delight, I found your wonderful tile #17939, showing a male sea-creature playing a flute.

In general, I refrain from buying these 'seacreatues' (I would be broke, by now, if I didn 't !). The subject on the particular tile does have a special meaning, and personal message to me. To conclude: I would be happy to buy this 'flute-player' from you. Please let me now if the tile is still available.

As I have no idea of the cost of shipment, could you inform me about this? I am in no hurry, so there may be economy-class fees available. I shall be paying you by MasterCard.

Looking forward to your reply,

with friendly greetings

Friday, November 2. 9:33 a.m.

Dear ID,

Thank you for your very pleasant note. The tile is available and has been set aside for you.

We have checked the Postal Service website, and we would be able to mail this small package to you for between $10 and $15. We would be happy to apply a 10% discount to the price of the tile, to offset the cost of shipping. It's always nice to return an antique to its home. Since the tile is considerably older than 100 years, I don't believe that there would be an export duty.

If you would like to buy the tile, we will get a definite price for mailing and charge the total to your card.

We await your reply.

John and Jan Maggs

Friday November 2. 12:17 p.m.

Dear John & Jan,

thank you for you speedy reply. I am glad to hear that my fluteplayer is still available. He will be glad to rejoin his fishy fellow mates.

So far, I 've been able to locate several 'flute'-players on 17th and 18th century tiles, but their instrument resembles an elongated 'clarinet', and is played accordingly. The one and only real parellel is like a big brother (in the Otterlo Tile Museum, and quite rare, due to its rectangular shape - see attachment).

For your discount, I am much obliged!

Kind greetings,

Saturday, November 3. 7:41 a.m.

Dear Jan & John,

forgot to send you the 'clarinet' player (attached).

Hope to hear from you soon!

Kind greetings,

Saturday, November 3. 8:15 a.m.

Dear ID,

Thanks for the information, and thank you especially for sharing the images of the two other tiles. The similarity of the two flute player tiles is exceptional; one doesn't usually see this consistency.

We had hoped to get your tile in the mail today, but U.S. Customs needs your phone number. Since our large shipment from England last April was held by Customs because our phone number was not easily visible, I think we must have yours. If you will provide this final detail, I'm sure that we can mail on Monday. When it is on its journey, I'll e-mail once more.

Thank you for your patience.

John and Jan

Saturday, November 3. 9:39 a.m.

Dear John and Jan,

my phone number is ********

Thanks again for your quick reaction. I am in no hurry, and do have a lot of patience.

Kind greetings,

Monday November 5. 12:40 a.m.

Dear ID,

Your tile is on its way. As you requested, we've sent it by International First Class mail, the least costly option. The tile is enclosed by two small pieces of plywood and layers of bubble wrap, which should ensure safe passage. The total charge for mailing was $12.00, and your card has been charged. We trust that it will arrive safely, but would appreciate an e-mail from you when it arrives.

We have enjoyed our correspondence with you and hope that you are pleased with your purchase.

Kind regards,

John and Jan Maggs

Saturday, November 10. 4:18 p.m.

Dear Jan and John,

to my delight, your package was in my mailbox when I came home this evening [we still have parcel delivery on Saturday!]. Your careful wrapping left the tile unscathed. My precious flute-player has come home safe and sound! He is neatly painted, as I thought he would be, and will have a prime position in my tiny private collection.

Thank you so much for your care.

My research on the sea creatures on Dutch tiles is proceeding steadily. Thanks to the internet, I can add to my photo-dbase almost daily. This wonderful medium also allows me to do a lot of research at home, on the sources for this particular iconography - e.g. among the 15th and 16th C incunabula and early bookprints, and the associated 16th and 17th C graphic arts and paintings of Northern Europe, etc.

A wonderful subject for a mediterranean archeologist, who had an old-fashioned, profound schooling in the history of arts, and can't resist her unceasing attraction to all that is born in art, and to its roots, in particular.

Hope to be able, in the near future, to answer your [and my] question as to why, or to whom, this delicate flute-player is performing his music.

Wish you all the best with your future enterprises in Conway.

Kind greeting,

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