Ware & regional marks
Delft marks
Delft marks are associated with tin-glazed dishes and plates and vases from Delft, Netherlands. Dated Delft marks extend from 1600 to 1799.
- Tradition from
- From 1614
- Country
- Netherlands
- City / region
- Delft
- Products
- tin-glazed dishes and plates, vases, tiles, decorative earthenware
- Marks
- 236
Regional industry, not one maker. Antique Dutch Delftware is generally c.1620–1850; modern Delft and Delft-style production continued afterward.
What to look for
- Read initials with any emblem: an A, star, claw, axe or bottle can identify a pottery as well as a particular owner’s period.
- Distinguish hand-painted marks from later stamps and record extra numbers separately. Not every production number has a known meaning.
- Check the body and glaze with the mark. The word Delft or Made in Holland also appears on later wares and products made elsewhere.
- Use Royal Delft’s year-letter list only for its own marking system, which began in 1879.
Key makers & their marks
236 marks
c. 1600–1699
A 33
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
These marks date to the early seventeenth century; Claes Wytmans founded the factory.
c. 1600–1699
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
These marks date to the early seventeenth century; Claes Wytmans founded the factory.
1759
j.B
dark blue · faience · Netherlands
Factory entitled “De Porctltyne Byl”. Joost Bronwer name tag.
1759
dark blue, black · faience
dark blue, black · faience · Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name tags from the factory called Axe (de Porceleyne Byl). Many imitations use these same names.
Marks 25–72
1759
dark blue, black · faience
dark blue, black · faience · Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name tags from the factory called Axe (de Porceleyne Byl). Many imitations use these same names.
1759
dark blue, black · faience
dark blue, black · faience · Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name tags from the factory called Axe (de Porceleyne Byl). Many imitations use these same names.
Undated
red · faience
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Van der Does name mark for the A la Rose factory.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Suter van der Even name mark.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Suter van der Even name mark.
Undated
D L 16
Production dates to around 1614.
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Production of . Red marks.
Undated
red · faience
The factory was active in 1760.
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Hendrik van Middeldyk name mark for the Heart (T’Hart) factory.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
I. Harlees name mark for De Porceleyne Fleshjes.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Associated with a colourful pattern.
Undated
Velde
Van-der-Velde painted ceramic tiles in 1600.
painted · dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Ceramic tiles painted by the artist Van-der- in . Dark-blue mark.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Pieter van Marum name mark.
Undated
dark blue, red · faience
dark blue, red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Pieter van Marum name mark.
Undated
blue, red · faience
These name marks date to 1590.
blue, red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Samuel Pieter Roeader name mark.
Undated
I K
black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Name mark of the Kiel factory, called White Star (De Witte Ster).
Undated
dark blue · porcelain
dark blue · porcelain · Delft, Netherlands
Ph. Wouvermans name mark.
Undated
blue · faience
This name mark dates to 1739.
blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Ian Aalmis name mark.
Undated
dark blue, black · faience
These name marks date to 1759; numerous imitations also exist.
dark blue, black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name marks identify the Axe (De Porceleyne Byl) factory; numerous imitations also exist.
Undated
blue, red · faience
blue, red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Van der Brielle name mark.
Marks 73–120
Undated
black · faience
black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Abraham Bergoom name mark.
Undated
H
black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Name mark of the Kiel factory, called White Star (De Witte Ster).
Undated
SPR
These name marks date to 1590.
blue, red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Samuel Pieter Roeader name mark.
Undated
HB
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Hugo Brauwer name mark for Three Porcelain Bottles (De Drie Porceleyna Fleshjes).
Undated
GVS
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Geertruy-Verstelle name mark for Old Moor’s Head (De Oude Moriaans Hooft).
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Peacock (Pauw) factory name mark.
Undated
dark blue, black · faience
These name marks date to 1759; numerous imitations also exist.
dark blue, black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name mark for the Axe (De Porceleyne Byl) factory; numerous imitations also exist.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Johannes van Duyn name mark for the Au Plat de Porcelain factory.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Name mark associated with Pierre Jan van der Hagen at the Moor’s Head (Tjongue Moriaans) factory.
Undated
dark blue · porcelain
dark blue · porcelain · Delft, Netherlands
Van der Does name mark.
Undated
dark blue, black · faience
This name mark dates to 1759.
dark blue, black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name mark for the Axe (De Porceleyne Byl) factory; numerous imitations also exist.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Van-der-Does name mark for The Three Bells (Trie Klokken) factory; numerous imitations also exist.
Undated
j B
This name mark dates to 1759.
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name mark for De Porceleyne Byl.
Marks 121–168
Undated
dark blue, black · faience
These name marks date to 1759; numerous imitations also exist.
dark blue, black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name mark for the Axe (De Porceleyne Byl) factory; numerous imitations also exist.
Undated
RS
These initials occur on a 1680 example.
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Rochus Hoppenstein initials for the Moor’s Head (De Oude Moriaaus Hoft) factory.
Undated
red · faience
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Jan van der Kloot name mark for De Romeyn.
Undated
red · faience
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Described as an imitation of the Kiel De Witte Ster factory’s production.
Undated
dark blue, black · faience
These name marks date to 1759; numerous imitations also exist.
dark blue, black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name mark for the Axe (De Porceleyne Byl) factory; numerous imitations also exist.
Undated
red · faience
1614 is the stated factory founding year, rather than a mark-use date.
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Undated
lilac · faience
lilac · faience · Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Heavy, thick objects bearing this stamp are stated to come from the .
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience
Associated with inscriptions containing indelicate verses; also attributed to factories at Nevers.
Undated
red · faience
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Described as an imitation of Japanese ornament.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Ter-Himpel name mark.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Suter van der Even name mark.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Name mark on an openwork basket with a dark-blue camaieu pattern.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Suter van der Even name mark.
Undated
dark blue, black · faience
These name marks date to 1759; numerous imitations also exist.
dark blue, black · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Joost Brouwer name mark for the Axe (De Porceleyne Byl) factory; numerous imitations also exist.
Undated
red · faience
Production dates to around 1614.
red · faience · Delft, Netherlands
Production of . Red marks.
Undated
dark blue, white star
dark blue · faience · Netherlands
White Star Factory; A. Kiell name tag.
Marks 169–216
Undated
dark blue, red · faience
dark blue, red · faience · Netherlands
Pieter van Marum name tag.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Netherlands
De Paauw Factory; A. Ritgo name tag.
Undated
dark blue · faience
dark blue · faience · Netherlands
Factory called “Peacock” (“de Pauw”).
Undated
PDW 1700
red · faience · Netherlands
Pieter Van Doorne name tag. Factory entitled “Porcelain Flask”.
Undated
red · faience
red · faience · Netherlands
Lambertus Sanderus name tag, the factory under the name “A la Griffe”.
Undated
white, red star
red · faience · Netherlands
Imitation of A. Kiel products. “White Star” (“De Witle Ster”) factory.
Undated
red · faience
red · faience · Netherlands
Imitation of antique Delft in Chinese style.
Undated
G:B:S:
red · faience · Netherlands
Van der Hagen widow name tag. “The Moor’s head” (“Tjongue Moriaans”) factory.
Undated
red · faience
red · faience · Netherlands
Lambertus Sanderus name tag, the factory under the name “A la Griffe”.
Undated
red initials
red · faience · Netherlands
Brand with the initials of Lambertus Sanderus.
Marks 217–236
About Delft
Delftware is tin-glazed earthenware associated with the Dutch city of Delft. Imported Chinese porcelain helped create demand for blue-and-white ceramics in the early seventeenth century. Delft potters adapted those models using a different ceramic body and an opaque white glaze. Their output included plates, dishes, vases, tiles and decorative objects, with white-only and polychrome wares as well as blue-and-white pieces.
The industry consisted of many separate potteries, often named after a house sign. De Grieksche A, De Metaale Pot and De Witte Starre each had their own ownership history and marks. Increasing use of initials and symbols in the late seventeenth century helped distinguish workshops. A change of owner could change the mark, while a factory emblem might persist.
During the nineteenth century the older industry declined and Delft-style production spread to other places. Later manufacturers revived traditional decoration, sometimes using their own names and sometimes copying old marks. Royal Delft had its own marking system, including year letters from 1879. Identifying a piece therefore begins with its specific pottery and period, rather than treating Delft as one company.
Also known as: Delft blue · Delfts aardewerk · Delft tin-glazed earthenware
Look-alikes & how to tell them apart
Edmé Samson and Geo Martel copies →
French factories made Delft-style faience, including copies of historic marks.
Compare the full mark, material and decoration with other factory examples. Samson sometimes added S or X beside a copied Delft device.
Modern Dutch Delft-style factories outside Delft
Delft decoration became a broader product style.
Identify the actual factory name and production method; Delft wording alone is not a city-of-manufacture mark.
Chinese blue-and-white porcelain →
It supplied models for much early Delft decoration.
Delftware has an earthenware body covered with tin glaze; porcelain is a different ceramic body. Compare exposed foot material as well as decoration.