UNDERGLAZE BLUE TILE, Delftware, Dutch Antique, Early Modern Period (16th–19th centuries)

An 18th-century Delft underglaze-blue tile from the Netherlands. Two armed figures are painted in cobalt at the center of the white tin glaze.

In Delft, tin-glazed earthenware was produced in great quantity mainly during the 17th and 18th centuries, and tiles became one of its characteristic products. Many were painted in blue on the white, opaque tin glaze, depicting a variety of subjects such as figures, landscapes, and animals. Numerous Dutch Delft tiles from the 18th century survive in examples measuring about 13 cm per side.

This work leaves a generous margin and places only two figures at the center. The hat, clothing, and even the weapon held are rendered with a few brushstrokes, and the varying shades of blue retain the subtle irregularities characteristic of hand-painted work.

The surface bears the wear characteristic of a tile long in use: fine abrasions, areas of glaze loss, and kiln marks are scattered across it. There is some glaze loss on the figure; the rim has chips, and a hairline crack is visible near the upper right. The reverse is unglazed.

Its convenient size makes it suitable for display on its own; it can be leaned against a wall or placed atop antique wooden furniture or on a shelf to be enjoyed.