Antique Delft Pottery

How much Delft pottery is worth varies based on characteristics like type, style, age and condition. Selling prices usually start in the low hundreds, with the most valuable examples of Delft pottery worth $10,000 or more. True blue Delftware originates only from a single location: Delft in the Netherlands. These precious pieces pair well with French faience. Unlike Delftware, French faience utilizes a lead-and-tin glaze. To find out how much a specific piece is worth, have a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer evaluate it. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of antique Delft pottery.

To identify your Delft pottery marks, try using the factory mark database on the Delfts Aardewerk platform. Several Dutch museums joined forces to create this site in order to educate the public and collectors about Delftware. On it, you'll find hundreds of pictures of makers’ markings and a handy search feature for browsing the images based on a description of your marking. If you're unable to find your mark on the site, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can aid you with making an identification. Explore a selection of Delft pottery on 1stDibs.

Delftware often has a maker's mark on the base or back of the item consisting of letters or figurative symbols to show where the item was manufactured. Today markings will say hand-painted in Holland as well as the phrase Delft blue in Dutch or English.

To tell if pottery is antique, first look for any identifying marks. Usually, you will notice them on the bottom of the piece. If you locate one, you can use an authoritative resource to determine the maker. Then, you can research the pattern and shape to determine an approximate date. Pottery made over 100 years ago is generally considered an antique. Find a range of expertly vetted antique pottery on 1stDibs.

To tell if your Japanese pottery is antique, look for markings, which usually appear on the bottoms of pieces. If you see the word "Nippon," your piece was likely produced between 1891 and 1921, making it an antique. Pieces marked with the words "made in occupied Japan" originated between 1945 and 1952 and are vintage, based on their age. A "made in Japan" marking may indicate a vintage or contemporary piece. If you don't see any of these markings, consult trusted online resources to get a rough idea of when your pottery was produced. Any piece that dates back 100 years or more is antique. Should you encounter difficulty with the dating process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Japanese pottery.