DELFT

During the 17th century, potteries which had taken up residence in former breweries in the Delft area of the Netherlands began to imitate the designs on Chinese porcelain which was being imported by the Dutch East India Company. Although other colours were used on the white tin-glazed earthenware (Majolica), blue became the most popular. By the 19th century, there was considerable competition from English potteries which began to produce similar wares. Today only a few companies produce the traditional, hand painted Delft pottery.