In-depth Articles

Around 1700 the Dutch pottery painters in Delft were experimenting with beautiful intense blue grounds. Nowadays, we call this ‘Persian Blue’ originally from the 'Bleu Persan'. By the end of the seventeenth century, potters were so skilled in keeping the tin glaze stable during the fire, that they could experiment with decorations. At some factories,…

It would seem rather impossible to speak of ceramics, either earthenware or porcelain, without paying tribute to the color blue. This story cannot be told without explaining the influence of the Middle East, which one can see in the early Chinese stoneware and porcelain production. The cobalt ore, needed to create the intense blue, was…

It was in the late seventeenth century, under the patronage of Queen Mary II, who was as passionate about Chinese blue and white porcelain and its local counterpart, Dutch Delftware, as she was about her gardens, that the Delft factories developed their technical skills and virtuosity in the production of all sorts of ’vases with…

For centuries the Commedia dell’Arte (Italian Comedy) has been a source of inspiration for painters, printmakers and porcelain manufacturers throughout Europe. This had as result that the subject appeared almost in every medium of the fine and decorative arts. The Commedia dell’Arte was a form of comedy theater characterised by masked types which began in…

Who can think of a thing that is more Dutch than people skating on the ice? December is also known as the first winter month, although lately there were no harsh winters during this month in the Netherlands. This has not always been the case, since there was a Little Ice Age which lasted from…

Although the trade of Chinese porcelain by the VOC (Dutch East India Company) became difficult from around 1650, because of the civil unrests in China, the VOC still managed to maintain trade relations with the southern part of China. They imported wares, such as porcelain, tea and the famous red stoneware teapots.[1] Once again, these…

When in the sixteenth century many potters migrated from Antwerp to the northern Netherlands, they established themselves in various cities. However, around 1600 the city of Haarlem emerged as the leading majolica centre. Multiple inventories show that a total of 45 potters had settled there and the production of majolica increased proportionally.[1] Although it is…

About three weeks ago, the new exhibition Nederland dineert, Vier eeuwen tafelcultuur (Dutch Dining, Four Centuries Table Culture) opened in the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag. With three meals a day, dining and decorating the table for special occasions was and is of all times. Delft potters have played an important role in bringing a custom of…

Dutch Delftware is also known by the popular term Delft Blue. The earliest Dutch Delftware was indeed only decorated in a blue colour, inspired by the Chinese Kraakporcelain which was traded by the VOC (see our newsletter of August). But this term is slightly inadequate, since Dutch Delftware is so much more extensive than only…

The arrival of the popular Chinese porcelain on the Dutch market had as result that the Delft Majolica potters had to invent new ways to bring their goods on the market. As they only created a limited choice of tableware (mostly plates, dishes and porringers) in contrast to the so sought after thin and shiny…