Delft Tin-Glazed Earthenware Tile

Name: Delft Tin-Glazed Earthenware Tile
Brand: Johan
Availability: LimitedAvailability

A square white and blue Dutch Delft tile depicting two men in 17th-century clothing with ox-head corner motifs. - view 1

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Estimated value

$40 - $120

Rarity

Average(4/10)

KILN TO COLLECTION: DELFT TIN-GLAZED EARTHENWARE TILE

A classic Dutch tin-glazed earthenware (faience) tile featuring a hand-painted central vignette of two cavalier figures in 17th-century attire. The tile exhibits the characteristic milky-white opaque tin glaze and cobalt blue 'Delft blue' decoration. The corner motifs (ox-head or spider-head variants) are typical of Dutch production. The reverse shows a coarse, yellowish-buff porous earthenware body with significant mortar residue, consistent with an architectural salvage item.

CLAY ACROSS CULTURES

Where This Object Echoes

Chinese Ming Dynasty17th Century

The blue-and-white palette was a direct European attempt to replicate Chinese export porcelain.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•Domestic hygiene: The movement from wood paneling to wipeable ceramic tiles in Dutch households.

Meaning Through Time

17th Century

A luxury decorative functional item for wealthy merchant homes.

Modern

A nostalgic collectible representing Dutch national heritage and 'Golden Age' aesthetics.

FROM KILN TO COLLECTOR

Dutch tiles grew in popularity during the 17th century as a sanitary and decorative wall covering for fireplaces and kitchens. While often attributed generally to 'Delft,' these tiles were produced in various centers including Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht. The subject matter of 'cavaliers' or fashionably dressed figures reflects the Golden Age's fascination with social status and military finery. These tiles were typically fired twice: once for the biscuit body and again after the tin-glaze and hand-painted decoration were applied.

KILN-SIDE SECRETS

The tiny holes visible on the surface are called 'pinholes,' caused by gas bubbles escaping the glaze during the high-heat kiln firing.

Dutch tiles were usually roughly 13x13cm; they were often used to line fireplace interiors because the ceramic helped reflect heat back into the room.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Average55-70%

CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

Standard antique shop items
Regularly available
Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

Hand-painted linework shows characteristic variability of period production
Mortar residue and wear patterns are consistent with authentic 17th/18th century architectural use
Tin-glaze opacity and cooling crazing align with traditional Dutch formula

How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

High confidence due to the combination of correct glaze characteristics, period-appropriate costume illustration, and authentic wear patterns/mortar residue.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Visible 'fritting' on the edges reveals a buff-colored, porous earthenware body distinct from later hard-paste porcelain.
2Interaction of cobalt pigment with the tin-glaze shows 'bleeding' typical of the 'in-glaze' firing technique.
3Presence of three distinct pin marks (kiln furniture marks) is often found on the reverse or corners of period tiles.
4The costumes of the figures—broad hats and ruff collars—date the design inspiration to circa 1640-1660.

UNCERTAINTIES

•High volume of 19th-century 'Delft' style reproductions exists, but the mortar residue and paste thickness here suggest an earlier date.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Measure the thickness; period tiles are generally thicker (8-13mm) than Victorian reproductions (6mm).
→Check for three tiny unglazed points on the surface, which would indicate the 'prikker' (spacer) positions used during firing.

CONDITION & GRADE

Fair

Grading breakdown

Structural integrity is compromised by the large bottom chip and corner loss; surface glaze remains bright but heavily crackled.

Condition

Significant loss to the bottom edge and lower right corner; heavy crazing with some staining/foxing. Large chip on the lower edge exposing the porous biscuit body.

Surface

Prominent spiderweb crazing (crackleur) throughout the tin-glaze; visible pinholing and small glaze pops. The edges show significant 'fritting' where the brittle glaze has chipped away from the earthenware body.

Weight & feel

Estimated at 250-350g; feels dense but brittle, with the sandy texture of old lime mortar on the reverse.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$40 - $120

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Who buys this

Architectural salvage enthusiasts, specialist Dutch ceramic collectors, and interior designers looking for authentic accent pieces.

What increases value

•Rarity of the specific 'cavalier' motif compared to common landscape designs
•Authenticity of the period (c. 1680-1720 vs later 19th c. copies)

What lowers value

•The large chip at the bottom significantly detracts from 'mint' collector value
•Staining within the crazing lines can be difficult to remove without professional intervention

What makes top-tier examples

•Complete 'corner' motifs in all four corners
•Detailed, high-quality painting of the figures vs. 'sketchy' mass-produced versions
•Minimal fritting and no structural cracks

Grade & condition

Completeness of the glaze, clarity of the central image, and amount of edge fritting.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandSells quickly

Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

User's identification of Delft/Netherlands origin is confirmed by the specific glaze type and corner motifs.
User's note that it 'needs restoration' aligns with the visible structural chips and fritting.