Buying advice Antique Delft Tiles

Astylish and practical collecting field, Delft tiles are easy enough to source from specialist dealers. However, as Delft was made in such an abundance throughout the 20th century, it’s important to be aware of contemporary copies passed off as 17th-century originals. ‘Unless you have a trained eye, I would always advise you to buy Delft tiles from a specialist dealer,’ explains Durk, whose family have been selling antique Delft tiles from their store in the Netherlands for the past 50 years.

INSPECT THE FINISH

‘With a bit of luck, you might be able to find a Delft tile in a thrift shop or with a local antiques dealer,’ explains Durk, ‘but it’s always important to be sure of what you’re buying.’ Throughout the 20th century, craftspeople around Europe made countless Delft-style pieces, including tiles, based on popular 17th-century designs. ‘You can recognise these tiles [20thcentury examples] by the perfect condition they are often in. They’ll usually have a smooth glaze and be very consistent in shape.’

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

For an antique piece, prices usually range from £80-£100 per tile, however, rarer examples will often cost upwards of £250. Some tiles are more collectable than others, which Durk refers to as the ‘Ferraris of Delft tiles’. ‘Early 17th-century polychrome Delft tiles with rare motifs such as elephants, parrots and other exotic animals in so called ‘diamond squares’ [where the central design of the tile is presented in a diamond-shaped frame] are very desirable,’ he explains. ‘There are also some very rare polychrome tiles that were made in Rotterdam around 1620 that depict mermaids and other mythical sea creatures.’ Tiles that feature tulips and were made during the Dutch ‘tulip mania’ period are also popular.