Delft Blue Tin-Glazed Earthenware Tile
Estimated value
$80 - $180Rarity
Average(4/10)Category
Ceramics & PotteryEra
late 17th to early 18th centuryOrigin
🇳🇱 NetherlandsAuthenticity
DELFT BLUE TIN-GLAZED EARTHENWARE TILE: IDENTIFICATION
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.
Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.
CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS
Where This Object Echoes
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
A sign of prosperity and middle-class hygienic standards.
A collector's item representing the birth of global ceramic trade.
SCARCITY
Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.
Rarity 4/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 101 ceramics items at rarity 4 or higher.
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
CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT
Ceramics Historian & Kiln Specialist
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.
CERAMICS MARKET VALUE
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
For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.
YOUR INPUT VS. SCAN
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.
SIMILAR CURIOSITIES
Chinese Export Porcelain 'Hong' Punch Bowl
Chinese Blue and White 'Dragon' Dish
Arne Åse contemporary porcelain lidded vessel
Chinese Blue and White 'Dragon' Meiping Vase, Qianlong Mark
Blue and White Porcelain Bitong (Brush Pot)
Chinese Blue and White and Iron-Red Scalloped Saucer, Kangxi Period (1662-1722)
ABOUT CERAMICS & POTTERY
Pottery, porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, and kiln-fired objects.
Ceramics & Pottery value and rarity guideSHARE THIS CURIOSITY
Have your own curiosities to discover?
Scan Your Curiosity
COMMENTS
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Sign in to leave a comment