Bygone Relics

Delftware, also known as Delft pottery, refers to blue and white tin-glazed earthenware traditionally made in Delft, Netherlands, from the 16th century onward. Originally influenced by Chinese porcelain, Delftware evolved into a distinct and iconic Dutch craft, particularly renowned during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch Golden Age.

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🏺 What is Delftware?

• Material: Earthenware covered in a white tin glaze, then hand-painted with cobalt blue (though polychrome pieces also exist).
• Styles: Includes plates, tiles, vases, figurines, chargers, and tulipieres (tiered vases).
• Motifs: Windmills, Dutch landscapes, ships, floral patterns, biblical scenes, and chinoiserie.
• Significance: Aimed to imitate more expensive Chinese porcelain but developed its own cultural and artistic identity.

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🏆 Top Delftware Producers (Historical and Modern)

1. De Porceleyne Fles / Royal Delft (est. 1653 – present)

• Location: Delft, Netherlands
• Status: The only remaining original Delftware factory from the 17th century.
• Famous Works:
  • Royal Commemoratives: Portraits of Dutch royalty on plates and vases.
  • Tobacco Jars: Elaborate lidded jars often seen in 18th-century apothecaries.
  • Large Tulip Vases: Multi-tiered vases designed for individual tulip stems.
• Modern Role: Still producing hand-painted Delftware and offering factory tours and museum exhibits.
• Markings: Typically a bottle or jar-shaped logo with “Royal Delft” or “De Porceleyne Fles” and artist initials.

2. De Grieksche A (The Greek A Factory)

• Founded: Circa 1658
• Location: Delft, historical
• Notable For:
  • Some of the finest quality 17th-century Delftware.
  • Use of chinoiserie and mythological scenes.
  • Often signed with an “A” in a cartouche.
• Notable Owner: Adrianus Kocx (late 1600s), responsible for exceptional quality pieces, now in the Rijksmuseum.

3. Petrus Regout & Co. (Société Céramique / Royal Sphinx) – Maastricht

• Period: 19th century
• Not technically Delft, but often grouped due to style similarities
• Notable For:
  • Mass production of blue-and-white ceramics inspired by Delftware.
  • Used transfer printing rather than hand painting.
• Markings: Often “P. Regout” with images like lions or sphinxes.

4. Boch Frères Kéramis (Belgium)

• Not Dutch, but influential in spreading Delft-style ware
• Produced: A range of faience inspired by Delft designs, especially in the 19th century.
• Style: More decorative and sometimes Art Nouveau influenced.

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🖼️ Examples of Iconic Delftware Pieces

Piece	Description	Producer	Period
“Flower Pyramid” Vase	Multi-tiered tulipiere, 3–5 levels	Royal Delft	Late 17th century / modern reproductions
“Blue Boy” Tile	Hand-painted tile of a child in blue outfit	De Porceleyne Fles	Early 20th century
Biblical Charger	Large round plate with Old Testament imagery	De Grieksche A	c. 1680
Polychrome Figurine	Colorful faience of a Dutch couple dancing	Petrus Regout	Late 19th century

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✅ How to Identify Authentic Delftware

• Marks: Look for factory initials (e.g., “P.F.” for Porceleyne Fles), painter’s initials, and Delft city marks.
• Hand-painted: Slight inconsistencies, brush marks, and glaze flaws are common in genuine antique Delftware.
• Weight and Glaze: Heavier and less translucent than porcelain; tin glaze often crazes (fine cracks).
• Fakes/Replicas: Many 19th–20th century copies exist. Modern Royal Delft pieces are usually marked clearly and accompanied by certificates.