When the craft of earthenware pottery was introduced into Holland during Spain's possession of Flanders, the manufacturing of ceramics was eventually concentrated in Delft.
Original Delft earthenware pottery (Delft tableware and ornamental ware) had a remarkably brilliant and heavy glaze, and was noted for its blue colours and decorative designs used on a plain white background. They were mostly patterned with conventional scenes, landscape scenes and town scenes.
The patterns were painted on before glazing and firing, a decorating method known as 'under-glazing'. A high standard of quality in its production process was maintained by a trade organisation of artists and craftsmen known as The Guild Of St. Luke, founded around the early 1600's.
The Dutch factories at Delft made earnest attempts to imitate the Chinese and Japanese wares during the 18th century, but without much success. This was because of the improvement in transportation, and the eventual cheapness of the authentic Oriental earthenware. The Dutch attempt at manufacturing porcelain was also unsuccessful.
Delftware was imported into the British Isles to a large extent during the early 18th century and was popular and much sought after by English collectors of ceramic art. Eventually, the British began to manufacture their own imitation of delftware ceramics in their own factories, notably at Lambeth and Bristol.
Many pieces, such as apothecary jars and medicine pots were produced for commercial use, while small flat tiles were made for fireplace facings and other architectural uses.
The Many Types Of Earthenware Ceramic Art
Production of earthenware varies from the terra cotta flower pot, to the highly sophisticated pottery of:
- The turquoise glazed faience (earthenware pottery decorated with coloured opaque metallic glaze) of the ancient Egyptians and the product of Athens during the golden age of the 5th century B.C.
- The striking cobalt blues of earthenware of the early Near East.
- The rare tin glazed majolica (earthenware coated with a tin oxide glaze) of renaissance Spain and Italy.
- The famous 18th century delftware of Holland, Bavaria and England.
Through many centuries, the careless use of earthenware terms by many well meaning writers and authors has understandably caused some confusion concerning the various subdivisions of ceramic art. It's helpful to note that the following terms are synonymous with earthenware:
- Pottery
- Majolica
- Faience
- Delftware
Delftware Ceramics Today
Today Delft earthenware ceramics stands as one of the popular genre of ceramic art pottery sought by avid art collectors.
The authentic and collectible Delft ceramic pieces has the brand name Delfts Blauw hand painted and written on the base of each piece. And though most modern Delftware borrows from the tradition of tin glazing, the modern day earthenware are mostly decorated in under glaze blue on a white clay body with very little use of tin glaze, if any, because tin glaze is an expensive product.
Related Topic
Classic Ceramic Art: Earthenware, Porcelain & Chinaware Pottery
Virginia Iyabo Smith - Virginia Iyabo is a professional interior designer, an interior design consultant, and a custom furniture designer. She started writing ...
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