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Popularly known as "Delft," Dutch faience is characteristic of the wealthy burgher society of Holland in the 16th and 17th centuries and the Dutch obsession with Chinese porcelain.  The finest example of Dutch faience pictured here is the polychrome plaque (b) from the third quarter of the 18th century that combines a Chinese basket motif with an arrangement of native flowers.

The Dutch faience industry flourished in the last half of the 17th century, its high point occurring between 1675 and 1700.  By 1650, faience potteries were centered in the city of Delft, whose name became generic for the ware.  Faience was made in England as well as the Netherlands and the Albany Institute's collection also includes examples of English faience.  In the second half of the 18th century, both Dutch and English faience were supplanted commercially by English lead-glazed earthenwares known as creamware and pearlware.

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Faience (Dutch and English Delft)

(a) Dish (schotel)
The Netherlands
Dutch faience, polychrome, third quarter 18th century
AIHA Collection: Gift of Catherine Gansevoort Lansing (Mrs. Abraham Lansing)

(b) Plaque (plaat)
The Netherland
Dutch faience, polychrome, third quarter 18th century
AIHA Collection: Gift in memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Van Schaik Lansing Pruyn by their daughter, Harriet Langdon Pruyn Rice (Mrs. William Gorham Rice) and Huybertje Pruyn Hamlin (Mrs. Charles S. Hamlin)

(c) Dish (schotel)
The Netherlands
Dutch faience, late-17th century
AIHA Collection: Gift of Catherine Ganssevoort Lansing (Mrs. Abraham Lansing)

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