Posted By admin on June 16, 2009
Because I’ve had many inquiries, and because I’ve noticed a lot of interest, I thought I’d address this interest…as much as I’m able to anyway.
First off, I’m not an expert! I’m merely a woman who grew up with a love of Delft because of European parents, (Dutch mom, German dad) and add that to the fact that the color itself it lovely.
People who love Delft Blue are often left to educate themselves on the history, and the worth, of their pieces. Quite often it’s possible that your Great Aunt Tilda left you something or maybe you found something in the attic and now, you’re wondering what it’s worth.
First, remember that it doesn’t matter if it’s a Maserati, a diamond ring, or a beautiful piece of Delft Blue Pottery…regardless of what an antique book might tell you the value may be, it will only be worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.
If your item is a one of a kind piece, and you can find a collector for it, then there is a chance your Delft has some value. The marks or stamps on the bottom will often tell you the town where the pottery originated. And many of these places had their own individual marks impressed into these pieces that would indelibly fix them as their own. And if it was a hand-painted piece, you might see a small signature, or initials.
The color of the delft also is an important part of your pottery although it’s not an exact indication of true delft ceramics. Even the cheaper pieces made today that are screen printed or handpainted with quick brushstokes, are considered delft. Some pieces are cheap knock-offs from China, that sitting side by side on a shelf with Delft-ware, may often be indistinguishable from each other.
The age of your piece may be determined more by how long you personally have known it’s been in your family and if you can prove it’s provenace. The longer a piece is around, the chances are it develops that ‘aged’ look; fine spiderweb cracks in the glaze and sometimes the inevitable nicks that come from being packed and unpacked and moved from one place to another too many times. Because many of these places in Holland are LONG out of business, it’s a very good bet that what you might hold in your hands from Great Aunt Tilda is indeed an older piece of Delft.
But what is it worth? That is the 64 million dollar question. Unless it is SO rare that there are so few left in the world, and it’s such an unusual piece, that chances are good you might not get a lot for it. That is simply to say that I’ve seen quite a few pieces go on a Dutch auction site and while I didn’t understand the language, I sure did understand the monetary exchange!
My best suggestion, if you are intent on selling an old piece that you know is handpainted, has that rich, deep cobalt blue color of the famous Delft, start searching for a buyer with a price you have in mind after visiting with a good reputable antiques dealer.
You might find it hard to part with and want to keep Great Aunt Tilda’s Delft Blue mug warmer after all 
…..no matter how much it might go for!
Category: Blue Delft |
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ay, I do have some really lovely new pieces of delft ceramics available now like the canisters and a lovely wall mounted coffee grinder.
These canisters are about 4 3/4″ tall and across the top have the english and dutch version of the contents (Coffee, Tea or Sugar) and each container shows floral and the traditional Dutch mills.