Delftware

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Delftware panel.

Delftware, or Delft pottery, is blue and white pottery traditionally made in and around Delft, the Netherlands. Today, Delfts Blauw is the brand name handpainted on the bottom of pieces, this simply means Delft blue in Dutch and identifies it as authentic and collectible.

Delftware is part of the tin glaze style of pottery, in which tin-based white glaze is first applied, then metal oxide decoration and finally a lead-based clear glaze overcoat to make the surface glossy. Delftware includes pottery objects of all descriptions such as plates, ornaments and tiles. Ironically, Delftware has lost most of its appeal in the Netherlands itself due to mass production for the tourist market.^{[citation needed]}

During the Dutch Golden Age, the Dutch East India Company had a very lively trade with the East, and began importing Chinese porcelain in the early 1600s. Dutch pottery was still quite unrefined, consisting mainly of red earthenware. The Chinese workmanship and attention to detail impressed many. Only the rich could afford the early imports.

Local potters attempted to make imitations of the porcelain, at first by creating maiolica; consisting of the same red earthenware, coated with a white layer to support the blue decorations. The inclusion of marl in the baking process allowed Dutch potters to refine their technique, and it was possible to make much finer items, known as faience. Delftware was further refined in 1884, when white clay was used rather than the traditional red color. White clay is much harder to find then the red clay and sells for more while attracting more customers because the colors that stand out much better. Today all Delftware clay is imported.^{[citation needed]}

Early Delftware depicted the same style of Chinese scenery found on the imports, but soon potters were including native Dutch scenes such as windmills and fishing boats. Delftware became very popular, and was often exported abroad. English Delftware was originally called galleyware, but was renamed in the 1700s because of the popularity of Dutch products.

There were 33 potters in Delft producing the Delftware, which ranged from simple household items to fancy artwork. All of the potters had their own signature stamp, which was officially registered to indicate an original Delftware. Most of these potteries went out of business in the 1800s, losing popularity to increasingly popular British porcelain. The only remaining original producer of Dutch delftware is De Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles founded in 1653. The name translates as The Royal Porcelain Bottle, reflected in their logo.