Pictured at right is a mid-century Delft Blue, Ship and Windmill, small canister set (made in Holland). The set was recently donated to the Historical Society by a Pleasant Prairie family that formerly used the set in their home to hold family mementos.

Delft Blue is a world-famous earthenware that has been produced in the city of Delft, Holland, since the 17th century. Between 1600 and 1800, Delft Blue was very popular among wealthy families, who would display their Delft Blue collections to one another.

Although the Delftware potters preferred to call their earthenware “porcelain,” it was actually a less expensive version of real Chinese porcelain produced from clay that was coated with a tin glaze after it was fired. Despite this, Delft achieved unrivalled popularity. During its peak, there were 33 factories in Delft, while today, only one factory remains.

In 1550, Majolica earthenware from Spain and Italy was the trend. Many potters in Antwerp (Belgium) copied the popular earthenware until 1585 when they were forced by Spanish conquerors to flee the city. The potters regrouped in Delft where they concentrated on reproducing the latest trend, Chinese porcelain.

From that time onward, the city of Delft has been inextricably linked to Delft Blue earthenware. Delft was also made in England during the eighteenth century. It is decorated with blue on white or with colored decorations. Real delft is a soft, easily chipped pottery. Most of the pieces available today were made after 1891, and the name Holland usually appears with the Delft factory marks.

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