Vermeer's The Milkmaid Inspires a Holiday Table

By Chris Frey
December 10, 2009

A trip to see Johannes Vermeer’s masterwork, The Milkmaid, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, has me vowing to banish the Brita from the table. On view for just eleven weeks (through November 29^th), the piece was last exhibited in the states at the 1939 World’s Fair. On loan from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, it came here again 70 years later to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s historic journey from Amsterdam to Manhattan.

Like many of Vermeer’s works, The Milkmaid portrays a simple domestic scene, a seemingly everyday moment—possibly a kitchen maid preparing bread pudding. In a time when many of his contemporaries were portraying woman as objects of male desire, Vermeer sought to give dignity to the woman and her work. While standing in front of the small painting (it measures approximately 18 inches by 17 inches), I was drawn to the strength and serenity of the maid herself, but also to the objects in the room. I took particular note of the pitcher and the vessel on the table, items that can be see in many of Vermeer’s paintings.

In that moment I vowed to return a sense of wholesomeness to my own table. I went home and unearthed a vintage pitcher that’s been tucked away for ages. With a sleek and simple shape, it’s mid century cool, but not quite as romantic as the pitcher in the Vermeer. And so I’ve decided to search for a more poetic version. A beautiful pitcher can elevate any table setting to something a little more special. It can serve in its usual capacity or as the centerpiece of the table, filled with wildflowers, as a stand-in for your predictable glass vase. During a season of plastic reindeer and faux snow, think of a sturdy pitcher as visual nourishment, the piece that takes you from domestic drudgery to dignity, whether you are hosting a lavish holiday feast or a simple dinner for two (or just you).

Antique Stevens & Williams Peachblow Water Pitcher (starting bid, $65; above, left) Reminiscent of a flower petal, this pitcher is from Stevens and Williams, innovators in colored glass since the 1800’s. The amber handle lends a dash of earthiness to this otherwise distinctively feminine piece.

Majolica Water Pitcher and Wash Basin (buy it now price, $450; above, center) An equestrian pattern envelops this pitcher from Wedgewood, the British earthenware company that in the late 1700s was endorsed by the British Queen. Called “Queens Ware” it sold incredibly well across Europe and remains popular today.

Red Transferware Pitcher (buy it now price, $23.95; above, right) White porcelain adorned with a dusty red toile pattern will instantly transport your table to the French countryside

Russel Wright Water Pitcher (starting bid, $45; above, left) No stranger to fans of mid-century modern, Russel Wright has been compared to Martha Stewart for mass marketing his designs under his own name as early as the 1930s.

Antique Silver Plate Ribbed Pitcher (buy it now price, $44.99; above, center) The rustic imperfections of the wood handle strike a beautiful contrast with the serene silver finish.

Blue Willow Porcelain Pitcher (starting bid, $29.99; above, right) A gorgeous piece from Blue Willow, the company that created the technique of mechanically transferring pattern to porcelain instead of hand painting—but who can tell?

50’s Royal Haeger Watcer Pitcher (buy it now price, $18.95; above, left) From Haeger, a collectibles brand spanning four generations, this pitcher has a fun wasabi colored interior.

Fenton Satin Glass Water Lily Pitcher (buy it now price, $49.99) Pale robins egg blue and a matte finish give this piece from Fenton a dusty powdered sweetness.

Unikat Polish Potter Pitcher (buy it now price, $40.99) I love the folksy “Unikat” pattern of this Polish pitcher. Crafted of high quality white clay, it is resistant to chipping and fading.

**Image of The Milkmaid from Getty Images.**

A freelance editor based in New York, Chris Frey previously served as the Fashion Market Director at Cookie and the Accessories Director at Lucky.

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