Royal Delft Blue and other Delft Blue?

Question

I have a few pieces of Royal Delft Blue. Mine is the floral rather than the windmills. I like the floral better. Is the Royal Delft Blue worth more or is there any other brands that are good? It's hard because I want more but some are just marked Delft Blue Holland on the bottom and I want to know that it is authentic.

What should I look for? Mine actually has a date on the bottom but most I find does not.

Answer 1

Have a look at http://www.replacements.com

This is a very reputable company that stocks 100,000's of pieces of china, crystal, etc. They can identify your pattern and if they don't currently have any in stock, they will notify you when something comes in. Their prices are excellent and the service is outstanding. Good luck, and as mentioned by others, buyer beware!

Answer 2

Most of the 'Delft blue'  that has the word 'Holland' on the bottom is made for the tourist market, not always in the Netherlands.

The best brands have only the factory marks on the bottom.

I am no expert on pottery, best ask experts.

But be careful when buying, the telltale is the factory brands.

Anything mentioning 'hand painted' on the bottom is not worth much and be very wary when it has 'Holland' on the bottom. Those indicate made for the tourist market and often not any quality at all.

Answer 3

I collect Delft pottery.  (I am American, but my family is from the Netherlands) I've visited 2 actual Delft porcelain factories in the town of Delft.  I've visited De Candelaer and De Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles.  Those 2 places create real, true Delft hand painted pottery.  You will find on the bottom of pieces from either of those places a special symbol denoting where the piece was made (each factory has its own symbol), the initials of the artist, the code that denotes the year it was made, and an article number.  

  The site I cite below is in Dutch.  However if you put it through a translator, it verifies what I just said about what you find at the bottom of a piece.