English Delftware Views
English delftware pottery and its painted decoration is similar in many respects to that from Holland, but its peculiarly English quality has been commented upon: . . . there is a relaxed tone and a sprightliness which is preserved throughout the history of English delftware; the overriding mood is provincial and naïve rather than urbane and sophisticated. [2] Caiger-Smith describes its mood as ingenuous, direct, sometimes eccentric ;[3] and Garner talks of its quite distinctive character .[1] Its methods and techniques were simpler than those of its continental counterparts. English tin-glaze potters rarely used the transparent overglaze applied by the more sophisticated Dutch and Italian potters. The enamels so popular on the continent in the 18th century were used only for a short time at Liverpool, where the so-called Fazackerly wares were made.
The development of a very white earthenware by Wedgwood spelled the end of English delftware. Decoration could be applied to the bisque ware from printed transfers, white pottery could be produced with a clear lead-glaze, and the result was pottery lighter and more durable than tin-glazed ware. The north Staffordshire potteries also introduced industrial techniques that disadvantaged the delftware makers[citation needed], and by the 19th century tin-glazed earthenware almost died out until its revival in the form of art pottery a hundred years later.
Other Delfts are Black Delft, Delft dor
The tradition of tin glazed earthenware has strong links with the industry of 'delftware' in Holland and as such is often referred to as 'English delft'. The earliest known producers in England of the highly sought after tin glazed pottery were immigrants from Antwerp, first settling in Norwich in 1567 then later moving to Alder Gate London where there is record of a pottery with six more Flemish potters under employment. Religious persecution by the Spanish in the low countries towards protestants forced people to flee, England was attractive to the Flemish potters with a certain amount of freedom in their religion, commercially 'tin' glazed ceramics was an established lucrative market and clay in Norfolk was very suitable for the industry. Clay from Yarmouth can be traced as being exported from 1597 to Rotterdam to be used in the delftware industry and later the same clay source were transported to London when the industries moved to the capital.
English Delftware Images
