What is blue and white faience?

Blue and white faience refers to ceramic objects made from earthenware and coated with an opaque tin glaze, then painted with cobalt pigment. These pieces developed across various European countries over several centuries. The category includes functional items like apothecary jars and inkstands alongside decorative wall plaques, chargers, and vases.

How were pharmacy jars used?

Apothecary jars, known as albarelli, held dry drugs, syrups, and ointments in historic pharmacies and dispensaries. Their distinctive cylindrical shape with a slight waist allowed pharmacists to grip them easily on crowded shelves. Many bear painted labels or decorative patterns that identified the specific contents or the apothecary shop they belonged to.

How do I display chargers?

Chargers are large decorative dishes designed primarily for display rather than table service. Historic examples often feature hanging holes in the footrim or sit securely on specialised plate stands. Placing them on walls or mantelpieces highlights the painted cobalt designs and contrasts with smaller cabinet pieces.

How do I tell periods apart?

Distinguishing periods relies on observing stylistic markers, glaze characteristics, and painting techniques. Seventeenth-century pieces often display close affinities with imported Chinese porcelain through Chinoiserie motifs. Later nineteenth-century items frequently adopt revival styles, combining historical forms with the cleaner technical execution of industrial-era kilns.