Holland

The first northern European country to imitate the imports of tin-glazed wares from Italy was Holland. Tin-glazed pottery was made by migrant Italian potters in Antwerp, in the Italian style, from 1512 AD. It spread throughout Holland, and some of the finer wares were produced in potteries around Delft, which led to the name – Delftware. It was used for tableware and decorative items but not for cooking.

Throughout the 16th century Dutch traders, and from 1602 AD the Dutch East India Co, imported Chinese porcelain in quantity. As examples, in 1612 AD one ship brought 38,641 porcelain items from Nanking to Amsterdam, and 69,057 items in 1614 AD. European imitations took off, replacing the Italian with Eastern style decoration. The Chinese porcelain was very expensive, and out of the reach of all except the rich. One method to imitate porcelain more cheaply was to use the Delft style of fine tin-glazed earthenware that their potters had become noted for. Most was decorated in blue and white, as this was the most popular Chinese imported porcelain colour scheme, although Chinese and Japanese polychrome was also copied. Its main period was from 1640 to 1740 AD. Although the very best wares could be mistaken for the Chinese porcelain originals, as mentioned in Chapter 8, most Dutch still life old master paintings in the 16th and 17th centuries used original Chinese vases not Delft.

The Dutch potters soon developed their own Dutch décor, using biblical subjects, landscapes and seascapes. Up to around 1615 AD the potters only used tin glaze for the painted surfaces, covering the rest with clear lead glaze. After this date they covered the whole biscuit item with white tin glaze, then painted it and covered it overall with clear glaze, which improved the appearance making it more closely resemble porcelain.

Delft wet drug jar 1675 AD - source
antiquezone.co.uk

Dutch Delft tiles, polychrome of ship 1760-1780 AD,
bird in cage 1780-1830 AD and house 1730 AD
- a) & b) courtesy R&G McPherson Antiques,
c) Image courtesy of the Potteries Museum
and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent

In the 17th century Delftware was also made in Germany, France and England (often using Dutch potters), although it was called Faience in France and Germany, after the Italian city Faenza from where the original wares were imported. The death of the Chinese Emperor, Wanli, and consequent interruption of Chinese porcelain supply to Europe gave a boost to European Delft. The Dutch potters started to use gilding on the Delft pottery around 1700 AD, requiring a third low temperature firing. A large number of decorated tiles were also produced.

One fascinating pot that began to be made in Delft pottery also around 1700 AD was the “bourdalou”. It is named after Louis Bourdaloue, a Jesuit preacher at the end of the 17th century at the Court of Louis XIV. His sermons were so long that the faithful needed to place these specially shaped chamber pots under their robes to avoid missing any of the sermons. They were also useful for long carriage rides.

The factory and potter’s marks on Delftware are very unreliable as earlier marks were copied, especially in the 19th century.

Dutch Delft bourdalou, 1715 AD - source
Metropolitan Museum

Dutch Delft Plate marked WK for William
Kool early 18th century - source
Guest and Gray