What is delftware made of?

These objects consist of an earthenware ceramic body covered in a white tin glaze. Cobalt pigment is applied to this surface to create the characteristic blue designs. Porter work involves shaping the clay on a wheel or in moulds before firing the piece to fuse the glaze and pigment together.

How were apothecary jars used?

Apothecary jars held dry drugs, wet medicines, and medical preparations in historic dispensaries and shops. They often featured specific painted inscriptions to identify the contents. Wet drug jars included spouts or wide mouths suitable for liquids and ointments used by pharmacists.

How do you date old delftware?

Dating relies on stylistic shifts in painting techniques, shape designs, and the composition of the ceramic body and tin glaze. Seventeenth-century pieces often display Kraak styles, while eighteenth-century items show diverse floral and pictorial motifs. Markings, such as pharmacy inscriptions and pottery attributions, help narrow the timeline alongside physical wear patterns.

Where was delftware produced?

Production centred primarily in Delft within the Netherlands, alongside notable workshops in England including Lambeth. Continental factories in France also manufactured similar tin-glazed faience. Each region developed distinct local characteristics in glaze thickness, blue tone, and decorative subjects over the centuries.