What is Delftware?

‘Delft blue’: Dutch souvenir shops are full of it. Like tulips, clogs and windmills, the blue-and-white pottery has become a symbol of the Netherlands. But the items in the shops are rarely ‘genuine’ antique Dutch delftware, which was made in a particular way, in Delft, and is often – though not always – blue and white.

Antique Dutch delftware has five key characteristics:

  • It was made between roughly 1620 and 1850.
  • It was made in Delft.
  • It has a tin glaze.
  • It sometimes has a mark.
  • It is often painted blue and white.

Delftware was made between 1620 and 1850

The first ships carrying Chinese porcelain arrived in the Netherlands around 1600. The new luxury pottery was very popular, and makers in Delft soon started trying to develop a good imitation.

Charger, (ascribed to) Willem Jansz. Verstraeten, ca. 1650 - ca. 1660, collection Rijksmuseum. Although the painter was definitely inspired by Chinese porcelain, he added some imagined elements, like the pulpit and parts of the landscape.

The Chinese porcelain was made of very fine white clay known as kaolin Type of clay essential for the production of porcelain. , but that was not available in the Netherlands. So to make ‘Hollants porceleyn’ (Dutch porcelain) the potters in Delft used tin glaze – an opaque white glaze containing tin oxide.

Potters in Delft tried to make a good imitation of porcelain

Tin glaze came to the Dutch Republic from the Middle East, via Italy and Antwerp. This technique was used in Delft until around 1850. That is why we refer to objects made between 1620 and 1850 as antique Delftware. After 1850 Delftware was made using another technique, and is known as modern Delftware.

Dutch delftware was made in Delft

Tin-glazed earthenware, or faience, was also made elsewhere in the Netherlands and Europe in its heyday, but that produced in Delft is acknowledged as the best. Dutch delftware is only referred to as such if it was actually produced in Delft. Take care, because in the late 19th century Delftware became very popular again, and manufacturers who were not based in Delft also put the word ‘Delft’ on the base of their products.

Mark of Cornelis Brouwer, owner of the pottery De Witte Ster (1724-1738). Collection Kunstmuseum Den Haag.
Planter, model 'Maastricht' with the decor 'Delfts' by Petrus Regout, collection Centre Ceramique • Source

Dutch delftware can be recognised by its white glaze

Delftware was made using a clay that turned yellow when fired. It was then dipped in a bath of white, opaque tin glaze to cover it completely. The earthenware objects were fired at around 1000 degrees Celsius.

This was not enough to fuse the clay and the glaze completely, so the glaze could easily flake off. This caused slight damage, where the yellow of the clay can often be seen. This is a good way of identifying antique Delftware.

Chips in the glaze can show the yellow or red clay underneath

The same goes for small scars Scar on the front of a piece of majolica caused by the spur used to support it in the kiln. left by triangular pegs on the base or back. The pots were stacked in saggars in the kiln to protect them from flames and smoke during the firing process. The items were separated in the saggar using triangular pegs. These left small imprints in the glaze on the base or back of the pot. These imprints are therefore a distinctive feature of antique faience Traditional term for tin-glazed earthenware. Earthenware objects with a thin body that are completely covered with a layer of tin glaze (generally white). The objects have a smooth front. On the bottom of chargers the imprints of the pegs on which the objects rest inside the saggars during firing can be seen. Probably references the name of the city of Faenza, an Italian centre of production. .

On the edge of the shoes, some parts of the glaze have chipped off, revealing the yellowy clay underneath. Miniature shoes, Delft, collection Museum Arnhem.
But the clay of Dutch delftware can also have a more reddish colour, as can be seen from the edge of this cup. Collection Kunstmuseum Den Haag.

Dutch delftware might have a mark – but not necessarily

Dutch delftware sometimes has one or more marks on the base or back. These marks were used increasingly from the late 17th century onwards. This was good for trade: the marks were a guarantee of distinctiveness and quality, particularly abroad.

Since factories often had several owners, the marks also indicate when the object was made. However, only a few of the maker’s marks have ever been officially recorded, and at least half the antique Delftware made never had a mark. So if a piece does not have a  mark, it does not necessarily mean that it is not Dutch delftware. This list includes all known Delft and non-Delft  marks.

A mark guaranteed distinctiveness and quality

Dutch delftware is not always blue and white

The first items of Dutch delftware were based on imported Chinese porcelain, which was always blue and white. That is why the combination of blue and white became popular in Delft.

However, cheaper domestic items had only a tin glaze, so they are completely white. And later Delftware was sometimes painted in several colours.

The tin glaze of this tea canister is completely black, instead of the usual white colour, and has been decorated with several other colours. Black Delftware is the rarest earthenware that was made in Delft. Collection Kunstmuseum Den Haag.

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