Tin-glazed earthenware was produced in the Low Countries from the late 15th century, initially by immigrant Italian potters who settled in Antwerp. The Dutch, however, developed their own decorative style that was more directly derived from Chinese porcelain, imported in bulk by the Dutch East India Company from the beginning of the 17th century.
When war interrupted trade with China in 1647, both Dutch and English manufacturers jumped at the opportunity to fill the gap in the market by making and selling copies of the sought-after products.
Within 50 years, the city of Delft had become the main centre for tin-glazed earthenware production in the Netherlands, with other flourishing factories established in Rotterdam, Haarlem and Amsterdam. Since this growth coincided with the decline of the Dutch brewing industry, many potteries made use of abandoned breweries, producing a host of ornamental and domestic wares.
Favouring blue and white, Delft potters reproduced Chinese designs from the late Ming period. Other forms of decoration, used on dishes, drug jars, flower vases, plaques, plates and tiles, ranged from Dutch landscapes and biblical stories to still-life flower paintings.
Chinese blue-and-white porcelain was also exported to England by the mid-17th century, but only the wealthy could afford this expensive luxury. Recognising a market among the middle classes for an acceptable alternative, English potters produced ‘delftware’ in London and other places across the country. Unlike the wares made in the Netherlands, English delftware was coarse and hard, lacking the fine, detailed brushwork typical of Dutch Delft.
By the end of the 18th century, the growing popularity of English cream-coloured earthenware led to the decline of the tin-glazed earthenware industry in both Britain and Netherlands.