Were these dishes used for eating?

Many smaller plates saw actual service at the dining table during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, though large chargers served primarily for display on walls or sideboards. Specialised shapes, such as barber bowls or presentiers, fulfilled distinct domestic and grooming functions within wealthy households.

What is the difference between delftware and tin glazed earthenware?

Delftware is simply the specific regional name given to tin-glazed earthenware produced in the Netherlands, particularly around Delft. All Dutch delftware falls under the broader technical category of tin-glazed earthenware. Regional production developed distinct stylistic traits and blue-and-white painting techniques that set Dutch pieces apart from other European factories.

How do I distinguish blue and white from polychrome?

Blue and white pieces utilise cobalt pigment exclusively against the white tin glaze background, creating a unified tonal scheme. Polychrome examples introduce additional colours such as iron red, green and yellow into the painted composition. Both decorative approaches appear across seventeenth and eighteenth-century forms.