What is a tin glazed ceramic urn used for?

These vessels served primarily as decorative ornaments, garniture sets on mantelpieces, or containers for dry goods in domestic interiors. Today they function as standalone decorative focal points or converted table lamps. Larger garden urns and planters were designed to hold substantial plants or stand on architectural pedestals within courtyards and reception rooms.

How do I tell Dutch Delft from Italian majolica?

Dutch Delft traditionally relies on a tin glaze painted with cobalt blue or manganese, often drawing heavily on Chinese porcelain designs or European landscapes. Italian majolica frequently employs a wider polychrome palette with historical or Renaissance revival imagery. Body thickness and glaze texture also offer clues, as majolica can display a heavier earthenware fabric with opaque coloured enamels.

Are these urns waterproof?

Historic tin-glazed earthenware is porous and generally not reliably waterproof due to micro-fissures in the glaze and soft clay bodies. Using them for fresh cut flowers requires a hidden inner container to prevent moisture damage. Displaying them dry preserves the structural integrity of the historic ceramic fabric.