Tin-Glazed Earthenware Wall Tile with Trumpeting Angel

Name: Tin-Glazed Earthenware Wall Tile with Trumpeting Angel
Brand: Johan
Availability: LimitedAvailability

A square white Dutch Delft tile with a blue hand-painted angel blowing a trumpet and floral corner motifs on a wooden table. - view 1

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Estimated value

$85 - $175

Rarity

Average(4/10)

KILN TO COLLECTION: TIN-GLAZED EARTHENWARE WALL TILE WITH TRUMPETING ANGEL

A classic Dutch 'Delft' tin-glazed earthenware tile. The central motif features a hand-painted blue monochrome (delftware) winged angel or cherub playing a trumpet, seated on a pedestal with a cast shadow. The corners are decorated with 'ox-head' or stylized floral 'hoekmotief' (corner motifs), typical of 17th and 18th-century production. The glaze displays characteristic fine crazing and pitting from the kiln firing process.

CLAY ACROSS CULTURES

Where This Object Echoes

Dutch Golden Age17th Century

The rise of domestic comfort and the use of tiles as didactic or decorative storytellers in middle-class homes.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•Architectural installation in hearths and baseboards to protect walls from moisture and soot.

Meaning Through Time

17th Century

A sign of hygiene, wealth, and sophisticated imitation of rare Asian imports.

Modern

A foundational element of 'Grandmillennial' or traditional European interior design.

FROM KILN TO COLLECTOR

Dutch tiles became a global standard in the 17th century, used both for practical hygiene (fireplaces, kitchens) and as narrative decoration. Figures like angels or 'putti' were popular 'isolated' motifs. The 'ox-head' corner motif seen here is one of the most enduring designs, allowing tiles to form a secondary pattern when installed together. While often associated with the city of Delft, similar tiles were produced in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Utrecht.

KILN-SIDE SECRETS

Most 'Delft' tiles weren't actually made in Delft; the term became a generic trademark for Dutch tin-glazed earthenware due to the city's high-quality reputation.

The distinctive white background was created by adding tin oxide to a lead glaze, specifically to mimic the appearance of expensive Chinese porcelain.

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

Clay body color and texture are consistent with period Dutch 'geelbakker' (yellow-firing) clay
Glaze crazing and edge wear patterns are consistent with age
Painting style matches known late 17th-century workshop hands

How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

The combination of the specific clay body color, the painting style of the 'putto', and the corner motifs provides a high level of certainty for an early period Dutch production.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Yellowish-buff earthenware body visible at chipped edges is typical of Dutch clay pits.
2Presence of 'pin-holes' in the glaze indicates a traditional tin-glaze firing.
3Ox-head corner motifs (hoekmotief) are period-appropriate for the 17th/18th century.
4The glaze has a characteristic 'fatty' or slightly undulated texture rather than a modern flat finish.

UNCERTAINTIES

•Lack of prominent 'nail holes' (small marks from the spacer board used during cutting) is unusual but not unheard of.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Measure the thickness; period tiles are typically 8-13mm thick.
→Check the edges for traces of original lime mortar which would confirm architectural removal.
→Look for three tiny 'pin marks' on the reverse side where the tile sat on kiln stilts.

CONDITION & GRADE

Good

Grading breakdown

The central motif remains clear and vibrant, though the edge chips (nibbles) and surface pitting are standard for tiles reclaimed from architectural settings.

Condition

Significant 'nibbling' and glaze loss along the bottom edge where the soft earthenware body is exposed. Visible fine crazing across the entire surface and minor staining near the edges consistent with historical mortar contact.

Surface

The glaze is a milky tin-opacified lead glaze with extensive fine crazing (crackling) and visible 'pin-holes' or 'pitting' from escaping gases during firing. The blue cobalt decoration shows varying thickness, typical of hand-brush application.

Weight & feel

Substantial and dense for its size, approximately 200-250 grams; the buff-colored clay body is thick and porous.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$85 - $175

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Who buys this

Serious antique ceramics collectors, historical restorers, and interior designers focusing on traditional European aesthetics.

What increases value

•Clarity of the central figure
•Presence of desirable corner motifs
•Lack of major cracks through the body

What lowers value

•Extensive edge loss (nibbling) can deter top-tier collectors
•Modern reproductions are frequent, usually identified by too-perfect surfaces

What makes top-tier examples

•Vibrant 'Hollandse-blauw' pigment
•Documented set of matching motifs
•Minimal surface pitting

Grade & condition

Condition of the glaze surface, amount of edge loss, and the rarity of the central motif.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandSells quickly

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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

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

What Aligned

User stated 'Delft' - visual evidence of tin-glaze and cobalt blue decoration confirms the Delftware tradition.
User stated 'Minor wear' - edging chips and crazing are indeed considered 'minor' and expected for an authentic antique tile.