History Delftware

18th century delftware, plate @ left japanese scene

during dutch golden age, dutch east india company had lively trade east , imported millions of pieces of chinese porcelain in 17th century. chinese workmanship , attention detail impressed many. richest afford imports. dutch potters did not imitate chinese porcelain; began after death of wanli emperor in 1620, when supply europe interrupted. potters saw opportunity produce cheap alternative chinese porcelain. after experimenting managed make thin type of earthenware covered white tin glaze. although made of low-fired earthenware, resembled porcelain amazingly well. delftware inspired chinese originals persisted 1630 mid-18th century alongside european patterns. around 1700 several factories using enamel colours , gilding on tin-glaze, requiring third kiln firing @ lower temperature. later, after japanese imari ware had become popular in late 1600s , 1700s (when tried fill gap of chinese shortage), delft began making own imari ware copying classic flower vase on terrace surrounded 3 panels cranes , pine design . orient-inspired delftware remained popular 1700s declined when chinese porcelain became available again.

delftware ranged simple household items – plain white earthenware little or no decoration – fancy artwork. of delft factories made sets of jars, kast-stel set. pictorial plates made in abundance, illustrated religious motifs, native dutch scenes windmills , fishing boats, hunting scenes, landscapes , seascapes. sets of plates made words , music of songs; dessert served on them , when plates clear company started singing. delft potters made tiles in vast numbers (estimated @ 8 hundred million) on period of 2 hundred years; many dutch houses still have tiles fixed in 17th , 18th centuries.

dutch delftware tile

delftware became popular , exported in europe , reached china , japan. chinese , japanese potters made porcelain versions of delftware export europe.

some regard delftware 1750 onwards artistically inferior. caiger-smith says of later wares painted clever, ephemeral decoration. little trace of feeling or originality remained lamented when, @ end of eighteenth century, delftware potteries began go out of business. time delftware potters had lost market british porcelain , new white earthenware. 1 or 2 remain: tichelaar factory in makkum, friesland, founded in 1594 , de koninklijke porceleyne fles ( royal porcelain bottle ) founded in 1653.

today, delfts blauw (delft blue) brand name hand painted on bottom of ceramic pieces identifying them authentic , collectible. although delft blue borrows tin-glaze tradition, decorated in underglaze blue on white clay body , little uses tin glaze, more expensive product. koninklijke tichelaar makkum factory in makkum, friesland continue production of tin-glazed earthenware.

delft blue pottery formed basis of 1 of british airways ethnic tailfins. design, delftblue daybreak, applied 17 aircraft.