What is real Delft Blue? (2024)

What is real Delft Blue?

Delft

Blue is a type of pottery which is made in the Dutch city of, you guessed it, Delft. The production of Delft Blue started in the 17th century and it is still being made today. In the early days of Delft Blue, potters began by making the traditional Delftware using clay.

How can you tell if Delft Blue is real?

When determining whether something is genuine Delftware, experts look for makers' symbols or initials, which are often on the base or back of an object.

Are Delft vases valuable?

What makes Delftware such an interesting collecting field is that some examples can be worth 'only' a few hundred dollars, while rare objects can be worth thousands of dollars or especially iconic pieces as large stacked flower vases, many times more.

Is Delft ceramic or porcelain?

Although Delftware was created as a cheaper alternative to Chinese porcelain, which remained in great demand throughout the 17th Century, the ceramics produced were still the finest in Europe.

Is Delftware still made?

Royal Delft has been creating high-quality Delft Blue since 1653. This age-old craft is passed on from generation to generation and iconic masterpieces are still made entirely by hand in Delft.

Is Delft worth anything?

Delft Blue pottery from Royal Blue Delft is expensive to buy. However, unless it is a rare antique it is not that valuable. I do not believe that ordinary, newly made, Royal Delft Blue pottery is any more valuable than the pottery made in Portugal.

How can I tell how old my Delft is?

Below to the left the painter's initials are painted and on the right a year code. Using the year code list you can find out in which year your Delftware was produced. Over the years, The Porceleyne Fles has carried many trademarks, which changed with every new owner.

What is the most sought after vintage pottery?

There are a number of valuable pottery marks, but some of the most sought-after include Meissen, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and Limoges. Each of these marks signifies a certain level of quality and craftsmanship, and collectors are willing to pay top dollar for pieces that bear them.

What is the difference between porcelain and Delftware?

The difference between porcelain and Dutch delftware can be seen in areas of damage along the rims. On delftware, these reveal a yellow body beneath the white glaze, whereas true porcelain is white all the way through.

How can you tell if a vase is vintage?

Check for the Maker's Mark

Alternatively, you could look it up in a catalog or reference book. Be aware of 'overmarks,' new stamps atop the original maker's mark, often by a retailer or importer. Overmarks were common between approximately 1880 and 1930, so finding one can give you a good indication of a vase's age.

What is special about Delft?

What is Delft famous for? Delft is famous for its ceramic Delft Blue pottery. It is known as the birth place of the famous painter Johannes Vermeer, known from "the girl with the Pearl". And it is known as a charming canal-ringed town with historical monuments and medieval architecture.

What is special about Delft pottery?

Delftware is one of the types of tin-glazed earthenware or faience in which a white glaze is applied, usually decorated with metal oxides, in particular the cobalt oxide that gives the usual blue, and can withstand high firing temperatures, allowing it to be applied under the glaze.

Why is Delft Blue famous?

Delft Blue was hugely popular between 1600 and 1800 AD, and it got its inspiration from Chinese porcelain. During the 17th century, with the Dutch Golden Age in full swing, all things Eastern were sought after and the Dutch East India Company (VOC) began bringing back porcelain items.

What color is Delft Blue?

The Delft dishes inspired by the Chinese export wares show a larger variety of blue than the Chinese originals. Together with a strong bright blue are shades of soft violet and grayish tones. The outlines, or 'trek,' are traced in dark blue, black, or a slight reddish-purple.

What is Delft Blue made of?

The Delft Blue decor is painted with a paint that for the most part consists of cobalt oxide according to age-old recipes. Due to chemical reactions during the baking process, it changes color – hidden under the glaze – in a black-painted pattern to blue.

Is Delft always blue and white?

Dutch delftware is not always blue and white

The first items of Dutch delftware were based on imported Chinese porcelain, which was always blue and white. That is why the combination of blue and white became popular in Delft. However, cheaper domestic items had only a tin glaze, so they are completely white.

How expensive is Delft?

Summary of cost of living in Delft, Netherlands: A family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,409.2$ (3,126.1€) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 979.1$ (897.8€) without rent.

What is the difference between Chinese pottery and Delft pottery?

In contrast to the Chinese Milk and Blood porcelain wares, Delftware objects painted with a similar style of decoration in iron-red and gold are extremely rare. In addition to these more or less direct imitations of Chinese porcelain, Delft potters also exercised personal interpretations, known as chinoiserie.

Why is Delft pottery blue?

Delft blue emerges in late 16th century as an alternative to the expensive blue and white Chinese porcelain. Unlike Chinese porcelain, Delft blue is not made from Chinese clay, but of composite clays carefully painted and glazed. Another craft; genuinely Dutch.

Where does Delft blue come from?

Though Delft Blue pottery had its heyday between 1640 and 1740, the Dutch began making pottery of the tin-glazed variety as early as 1570. Though it's often confused with porcelain, Delftware is actually made from a blend of three different clays, one from Delft, one from Tournai and one from the Rhineland.

What do the letters mean on bottom of pottery?

Ceramic monogram as a mark

These letters are usually the first letters of the ceramist's first name and surname and perhaps the middle name(s). These initial letters are also called initials.

How can you tell if ceramic is vintage?

Check the condition: Look for signs of wear and tear, such as scratches, chips, cracks, and discoloration. Old pottery is likely to have some degree of damage or discoloration from years of use and exposure to the elements. Examine the glaze: Old pottery may have a crackled or crazed glaze due to the age of the piece.

How do I know if my pottery is worth money?

So, with all this variety, how do you know whether your piece is valuable or not? Experts agree that there are five areas to consider when valuing your antique ceramic piece, which are collectively referred to by the acronym RADAR; Rarity, Aesthetics, Desirability, Authenticity and Really good condition.

How do I find out what my pottery is worth?

One of the best ways to determine the current value of your art pottery today is to simply put it up for auction and let the competitive bidding determine the price.

What pottery marks are worth money?