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Delft Blue Tin-Glazed Earthenware Tile

Authentic 17th-18th century Dutch Delft blue and white ceramic tile featuring hand-painted figures and crazed tin-glaze. - view 1
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Estimated value

$80 - $180

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Era

late 17th to early 18th century

Origin

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
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KILN TO COLLECTION: DELFT BLUE TIN-GLAZED EARTHENWARE TILE

A square tin-glazed earthenware tile, commonly referred to as a 'Delft tile,' featuring a hand-painted central vignette of two figures—one playing a violin or fiddle and the other appearing to be a dancer or companion. The decoration is executed in cobalt blue underglaze. The corners are adorned with traditional 'ox-head' or stylized floral motifs. The surface shows a distinct network of crazing (fine cracks in the glaze) and significant yellowish staining, likely from long-term exposure to moisture or smoke. The reverse side reveals a coarse, buff-colored earthenware body with remnants of mortar and a handwritten number '90', following the traditional construction of 17th to 18th-century Dutch tiles.

CLAY ACROSS CULTURES

Where This Object Echoes

Dutch Golden Age1600-1750

The rise of the merchant class led to a boom in domestic decoration, replacing tapestries with hygienic tiles.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Lining the hearth: Tiles were placed around fireplaces to protect the wall and reflect heat into the room.

Meaning Through Time

17th Century

A sign of prosperity and middle-class hygienic standards.

Modern Era

A prized collector's item representing the birth of global ceramic trade.

FROM KILN TO COLLECTOR

Originating in the 17th century, these tiles were a hallmark of Dutch interior design, used to line fireplaces, kitchens, and baseboards to reflect heat and provide an easy-to-clean surface. The subject matter—folk figures, children at play, or biblical scenes—reflected the secular and domestic ...
Originating in the 17th century, these tiles were a hallmark of Dutch interior design, used to line fireplaces, kitchens, and baseboards to reflect heat and provide an easy-to-clean surface. The subject matter—folk figures, children at play, or biblical scenes—reflected the secular and domestic interests of the Dutch Golden Age. While Delft became the namesake, similar tiles were produced in Rotterdam, Utrecht, and London (Delftware). The 'ox-head' corner motif seen here is one of the most common diagnostic patterns used to date these pieces to the mid-to-late 17th or early 18th century.

KILN-SIDE SECRETS

1

Small holes found in the corners of these tiles aren't damage; they are 'pin holes' from the wooden blocks used to hold the clay in place during cutting.

2

The blue color comes from cobalt oxide, which is the only pigment that could reliably withstand the high heat of the kiln during the second firing.

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

  • Construction method (thick earthenware biscuit and mortar residue) is period-correct
  • Crazing and staining patterns are consistent with genuine 300-year-old tin-glaze
  • Hand-painted linework shows 'ink-like' absorption into the glaze, unlike modern transfers
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist

Ceramics Expert

The combination of the thick earthenware body, mortar residue, specific corner motifs, and the way the cobalt has reacted with the tin glaze provides very strong evidence of authenticity.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Authentic earthenware 'biscuit' body visible on the reverse shows traditional hand-cut edges.
  • 2Tin-glaze (opaque white) shows characteristic crazing and 'fat' edges where the glaze pooled slightly.
  • 3The 'ox-head' corner motif is a known diagnostic for tiles produced between 1650 and 1750.
  • 4The blue decoration is clearly hand-painted under the glaze, not a modern transfer or stamp.
  • 5Mortar traces suggest the tile was salvaged from an original historical installation.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The heavy yellow staining can sometimes be faked with tea-dunking, but here it appears naturally integrated with the crazing.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Measure the thickness; 17th-century tiles are typically 8-13mm thick, whereas 19th-century reproductions are thinner.
  • →Check for small 'pin holes' in the corners (look for tiny circular indentations), which confirm traditional manufacturing.

CONDITION & GRADE

Grading breakdown

Standard grading systems do not apply to architectural salvage ceramics; value is driven by the rarity of the central motif and the extent of corner damage.

Condition

Significant surface staining and yellowing are present, likely deep within the crazing. There is visible edge wear ('nibbling') and mortar residue on the reverse, indicating it was once installed.

Surface

The glaze shows classic 'crazing'—a fine network of cracks caused by the different contraction rates of the body and glaze during cooling. The cobalt application shows the 'bleeding' typical of authentic hand-painting on a raw tin-glaze ground.

Weight & feel

Substantial and dense; the thick earthenware biscuit would feel heavy for its size, typical of architectural ceramics.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$80 - $180

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Who buys this

Collectors of Dutch Golden Age artifacts and interior designers looking for authentic architectural salvage.

What increases value

  • •Subject complexity (figural tiles are worth more than simple floral ones)
  • •Condition of corners (chips reduce value significantly)
  • •Age (pre-1750 examples command a premium over 19th-century 'Delft-style' tiles)

What lowers value

  • •The heavy staining may deter some collectors who prefer 'cleaner' examples
  • •Potential for invisible hairline cracks across the center

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Rare polychrome colors (manganese purple or yellow)
  • •Specific identifiable scenes (e.g., whaling or obscure biblical stories)

Grade & condition

Glaze integrity, clarity of the hand-painted scene, and presence of original corner motifs.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandModerate liquidity
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 Context: 'Just some writing' - The number '90' on the back is indeed handwritten, likely an old inventory or collection mark, which is common on salvaged antiques.

What Conflicted

  • User Context: 'Reproduction stamp' - This is not a stamp or a reproduction; visual evidence confirms it is a hand-painted ceramic tile from the 17th or 18th century.

FROM THE CABINET OF

JO

Johan
Fellow Collector•14 items

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