Delft is one of the most famous cities in the Netherlands. He was glorified by the paintings of the mysterious Jan Vermeer Delft and pottery, known worldwide as Delft porcelain. But porcelain in the Netherlands began to be produced much later and not at all in Delft.
In the XVII century, Delft experienced its heyday. Holland at that time became the most prosperous country in Western Europe, the basis of its well-being was successful maritime trade. For commerce with the countries of the East, the East India Company was founded, and one of its headquarters was located in Delft. Dutch merchants brought tea, spices, fabrics, precious metals and, of course, porcelain from Asia.
Porcelain is the noblest type of pottery. The porcelain mass includes kaolin - premium clay. In addition, other substances must be added in certain proportions and fired at the right temperature. The result is a fairly solid, temperature-resistant, lightweight, non-porous, translucent, sonorous material - solid porcelain. The secret of its manufacture as a result of centuries of technological improvement has been discovered in China.
For the first time, Europeans learned about Chinese porcelain in the 13th century from the Venetian traveler Marco Polo. In XV, a few items made of precious porcelain appear in the palaces of European monarchs. And only in XVII, thanks to the efforts of the East India Company, porcelain enters the Old World in bulk, but still it remained extremely expensive and was available only to a small circle of very rich Europeans.
They tried to unravel the secret of making porcelain in Europe for several centuries. The Chinese so strictly kept the secret of porcelain that it was subsequently reinvented several times. In the process of research, new types of ceramics were created, including faience. According to external data, it looks like porcelain, but still it is a lower quality material. It is more porous, not so thin and sonorous, does not transmit light. Nevertheless, earthenware became widespread in Europe, Spain and Italy became famous for earthenware products. And in the XVII century the main role in the production of faience passed Holland.
In 1614, in Delft, a certain Wittmans received a patent for ceramic production. In a very short time, the small Dutch city becomes an art center of European significance. Interestingly, the development of pottery in Delft of the 17th century was facilitated by the deterioration of the quality of local water. Previously, the city was famous for its breweries. But because of the water, many breweries had to be closed, and ceramic workshops were founded in their place.
Solid porcelain, known to the Chinese since the 10th century, was discovered in Europe only in 1709. Delft became famous for products from earthenware. But even in old Dutch documents he was called porcelain. There is no kaolin so necessary for making porcelain in Holland at all. The material for the manufacture of Delft faience is a mixture of three types of clay, one of which is white. Combining with glaze, it gives a dense dense white background, very convenient for painting. The products are remarkably light in weight; they are illusory similar to Chinese ones. And only the presence of a fresh fault can convince us that this is not porcelain, but faience.
Initially, Delft masters imitated Chinese decor. Polychrome products were also common, but they were especially fond of blue and white painted with cobalt on a white background. Since the second half of the XVII century, along with Chinese motifs, they began to depict views of Dutch cities, windmills, sea landscapes with sailboats. Then came products depicting traditional Dutch landscapes, biblical subjects, and floral motifs.
In addition to dishes in Delft began to produce ceramic tiles. In Dutch homes, she laid fireplaces, panels and whole rooms from floor to ceiling. But at least a plinth along the bottom edge of the wall to protect the plaster during floor cleaning. Among the popular motifs on the tile was the image of Dutch peasants and townspeople in casual clothes, busy with their usual work.
