This pair of figures is likely inspired by the depiction of milkmaids commonly seen on seventeenth- century majolica plates and tiles. The milkmaid motif was a popular decorative theme during this period, appearing on both flatware and tiles. These items were often produced in the same workshops until around 1650, at which point the production of pottery and tiles became more specialized, leading to greater differentiation between these forms.

The female figurine originates from a 1601 woodcut published in Dracht-Thoneel by Zacharias Heys in Amsterdam. However, in this Delftware adaptation, she is notably missing the yoke that appears in the original print. The earliest known source for Heys’s illustration dates back even further, to 1562, demonstrating the enduring influence of traditional Dutch costume imagery in decorative arts.

This figurine represents the Waterlandsche Boerin (a female farmer from the Dutch region of Waterland). Her distinctive clothing style is described in an old Dutch poem accompanying the original woodcut:

“In Waterlandt gaet de boerin gecleedt

Op dees manier gehorent cort van kleeren

De winter Cout noch oock den somer heet

En kan haer niet van haer gewoonte keeren.”

(In Waterland, the farmer’s wife is dressed In this way, accustomed to short garments, Neither the winter cold nor the summer heat Can make her abandon her habit.)

It is unlikely that the Delftware modeler had direct access to the original woodcut. However, its imagery had been widely reproduced over the years, particularly as decoration on majolica dishes and tiles (fig. xx), making it more accessible to Delftware artisans. This likely led to adaptations in both her posture (houding) and the colors of her clothing, reflecting stylistic and practical choices made in Delft pottery workshops.

The male figurine, which appears as a counterpart to the Waterlandsche Boerin, was likely inspired by a similar source, though its exact artistic reference remains unidentified. Further research into contemporary prints and majolica designs may yield insights into the origins of this companion figure.