What is a delft charger?

A delft charger is a large tin-glazed earthenware plate created for decorative display rather than daily dining. These pieces feature hand-painted designs executed in cobalt pigment or polychrome colours. Potters produced them in both English and Dutch workshops during the eighteenth century. Their broad surfaces made them ideal for hanging on walls in domestic interiors.

How do I hang a charger?

Displaying a charger safely requires a specialised wall hanger designed to distribute weight evenly across the ceramic rim. Spring-loaded brass wires or coated metal clips secure the piece without applying undue pressure to the earthenware body. Collectors should ensure the mounting fixture anchors securely into wall studs or uses appropriate masonry fixings. This prevents accidental displacement of heavy eighteenth-century wall chargers.

Are these plates for dining?

These pieces function as decorative wall chargers rather than tableware for serving food. The soft tin-glazed earthenware surface is vulnerable to cutlery scratching and acidic foods. Historic examples survive precisely because previous owners treated them as display objects. Preserving the hand-painted glaze requires keeping them away from active dining use.

How old are these chargers?

The chargers on this page date from the eighteenth century, encompassing English and Dutch examples from the Georgian era. Makers utilised traditional clay bodies and tin-glaze techniques characteristic of that period. Stylistic markers such as palette choices, brushwork execution, and rim profiles help experts determine their approximate age and origin. Each piece carries the material evidence of its eighteenth-century manufacture.