Compared to other wellknown types of ceramics like Majolica, Delft Blue exists only for a relatively short period of time. In the middle ages Delft blue pottery didn't exist yet. The potters only created earthenware from local clay. This earthenware was grayish, redbrown or yellow. Decorating it was primarily done by carving symmetrical shapes with a sharp object. Painting and glazing was also done, but the real delft technique didn't come into play until the 17th Century.

The first named ceramist in Delft is Herman Pieterszoon (1584). He had learned the ceramics trade in Haarlem, but he is the first recorded ceramist in Delft, where he started creating ceramics. Within 60 years over thirty factories had opened their doors and started the ceramics-tradition in Delft, which later became the worldfamous Delft Blue Pottery.

Running from the spanish inquisition of Antwerp in 1585, groups of Italian, Spanish and Portugese ceramists moved to Delft. They brought their techniques and knowledge about ceramics with them. At the same time the V.O.C. (united east-indies company, a large trade-association) started importing porcelain from China. It is rockhard, smooth and shiny, scratchproof and very thin, almost translucent. It's decorated, mostly in cobalt-blue, with designs such as flowers and dragons. This had a strong appeal to the upperclass citizens. Soon a massive trade in such porcelain started. Because of the success of this newlyfound fashion-item, the Delft ceramics-painters attempted to replicate it. They tried to produce the same high quality, which soon proved to be impossible. This was caused by the simple fact that local Dutch clay has a completely different (so to speak, inferior) composition from Asian porcelain-earth.

Earthenware/ceramics are fired at temperatures around 1050 degrees centigrade. Porcelain on the other hand is fired at temperatures up to 1400 degrees centigrade. In this difference lies the secret of porcelain; at these extremely high temperatures the minerals in the porcelain melt together and form an impermeable, and very strong bond. That is why porcelain can be moulded into very thin, translucent shapes. This is due to the composition of ceramics ever impossible.

When firing ceramics this melting together of minerals does not occur so the ceramics has to be more massive than porcelain in order to obtain the same strength. Ceramics also need to be glazed in order to make it impermeable to water. Since the goal with the creation of Delft Blue pottery has been to recreate the Chinese pottery as good as possible, it has always been susceptible to changes made to the technique.

One of the most important changes was when people started to use English clay instead of local one. This clay has a natural white color without the need for a special tinglace. This made it possible to paint right onto the earthenware, and to be glazed with a clear, transparent glace. This technique is still used today, but every new technique that leads to improving the quality is used.

Delft Earthenware is actually a mixture of many techniques that has become famous through the ages. Despite the many changes, the skills haven't lessend. On the contrary, the demands placed on a painter have increased during the years.

The Chinese used a lot of blue with the creation of the pottery. The main ingredient for this color is Cobalt-oxide, a natural compound well suited to withstand the extreme temperatures occurring when it's being baked. Only later they introduced different colors like red and green, and then Delft Polychrome, a technique where many colors are used. (poly = many, chromo = color). They tried black for a while, but it was never a hit.

In 1647 a civil war started in China, which ended the mass import of Chinese porcelain. This started a golde time for Delft Blue pottery. In Delft lots of breweries went bankrupt, which in turn assured a lot of workspace for the ceramists. Also the location on the river 'de Schie' insured easy transportation to local and foreign destinations.

In the same period they also started to introduce typical dutch designs like windmill landscapes and native flowers where introduced.

Early 18th Century the Chinese pottery slowly returned to the market, and the factories that had expanded so much were now having a hard time. Within a short period of time many factories were closed, and the remaining ones started focusing on tiles, which were in popular demand, even in Portugal, the number 1 producer of tiles.

Nowadays Delft Blue is wellknown around the world. The technique is appreciated for its refined decorations and shiny finish, although more and more cheap imitations arise for the touristindustry it still brings a sense of appreciation and admiration to collectors and admirers.