English tin-glazed earthenware was introduced into this country by immigrant potters from the Netherlands who settled in Norwich in 1567 and moved to London three years later. Netherlands personnel, technology and decorative styles dominated English production till the second quarter of the 17th century. Facing competition from imports of oriental porcelain, tin-glaze potters in the Netherlands introduced a number of technological changes in an attempt to imitate porcelain, bringing about a transition from the traditional maiolica to the new delftware. These changes form the basis for an understanding of developments in England, and are discussed in this article.
From Maiolica to Delftware: Tin-Glazed Earthenware in London and the Low Countries, 1570-1630
15 May 2025