Delft Pottery

Representing the pinnacle of tin-glazed Netherlander pottery, Delft pottery, also known as "Delftware," has a heritage that stretches back to the 1500s. It is noted for its bright white finish and rich blue painting.

The origins of Delft pottery can be traced to the city of Antwerp, then part of Flanders. It was there in 1500 where the Italian ceramist Guido da Savino opened his studio and began creating richly painted pieces. Soon his style skyrocketed in popularity, and though the Spanish ransacked the city of Antwerp in 1576, this vibrant pottery tradition persevered. A new hub of production was developed in the northern city of Delft, where, by the 17th century, the tin-glazing technique for pottery had taken hold.

The tin-glazing method used to create Delftware allowed for a bright white finish mimicking porcelain that could be painted. Delft ceramists centered their palette on a rich blue, either imitating or rivaling the Chinese painted porcelain that was beginning to filter into Western Europe. What followed was a vast production of brilliantly patterned pieces that resonated with the elegance of the blue-on-white designs and that are the desire of many ceramic connoisseurs today.

Quick Facts

• The solitary color palette for Delftware has given it the alternate moniker "Delft Blue"
• Delft pottery is still in production today, with two companies who have been in production for centuries: Tichelaar, which opened its doors in 1594, and the Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles, which launched in 1653
• Delft producers also created decorative tiles, including those used to decorate the dining room of 19th century author Victor Hugo’s house on the British island of Guernesey