Why I Still Love Blue Dutch Antique Delft Tile - A 2016 Blog with a 2025 Forward

August 07, 2025 1 Comment

The Famous Delft Tile Bathroom in the 1887 Wightwick Manor, located near Wolverhampton, England

The images above are a pristine example of Arts and Crafts and Aesthetic Movement ideals. The 1887 Wightwick Manor, located near Wolverhampton, England, is a remarkable Victorian house with beautifully integrated gardens. The Famous Delft Tile Bathroom: A standout feature of the manor's interior is the breathtaking Delft Tile Bathroom. This room is extensively clad in original 17th-century blue and white tiles from the Netherlands. These are not reproductions but authentic antique tiles collected by the Mander family. The tiles line the walls and encase the bathtub, each one hand-painted with a unique scene, showcasing a variety of subjects including biblical stories, rural landscapes, children at play, and maritime scenes. This remarkable collection demonstrates the Manders' eclectic tastes and their appreciation for historic craftsmanship, seamlessly integrating it into their modern "House Beautiful."

The image above is our own Antiqued Delft Tile collection I hand painted over 15 years ago, going stronger than ever available for purchase here on our e-commerce site.  The Delft tile bathroom at the Wightwick Manor has always been an inspiration to me and what I wanted to offer at Historic Decorative Materials.  What is wonderful news - is that coming late fall 2025, we will finally be offering an in-stock beautiful rendition of antique black and white marble checkered flooring. This classic pairing of antique Delft tiles and black and white marble checkered flooring will forever go beyond trends.  It will always remain historically important and artistically mesmerizing.

Forward: August 7, 2025

It is true that rereading older material can be a bit cringe.  As I reread this blog that I wrote back in 2016 - I was surprised I didn't want to scrap the whole thing and rewrite it. It is now 2025 and my love for antique Delft tiles has not changed.  I have never waivered -  even though back in early 2000's up until maybe three to five years ago, interior designers and homeowners overlooked the encapsulated beauty and history of Delft tiles.  However, 2025 trends have changed.  Perhaps we are searching for something as a collective.  A simpler time, artisanal craftsmanship, feeling bonded to our humanity from centuries ago.  François, my daughter and I had just returned from a trip to Amsterdam when I wrote this blog so long ago.  I am grateful I hand painted our collection over 15 years ago and still offer this collection today.  What's even more exciting is soon having an in-stock rendition of antique black and white marble tile floor to install in primary baths along with walls and walls of our antiqued Delft tiles.  My inspirations live on and through us, we can offer new generations material that outlive centuries and trends.  They create warm, beautiful interiors with historic authenticity and nostalgia.

Emmi Micallef, co-founder - Historic Decorative Materials

Vintage Blog 2016:

Spending some time in Amsterdam this past summer, I saw the ubiquitous delftware bowls, plates and mugs.  Commercialization to the extreme, tourists seemed to be buying them perhaps for a fond memory of their trip.  One bowl here, one plate there...I was not impressed.

The reason for my discontent came to me afterward, while researching Delft Tile for this blog. 

According to historian Caiger-Smith, "Some regard Delftware from about 1750 onward as artistically inferior...little trace of feeling or originality remained...and at the end of the 18th century - the Delftware potteries began to go out of business."

This made sense to me for my eye was always drawn to those Delft tiles during the Dutch Golden Age during the early 17th century.  This was when the Dutch East India Company, having a lively trade with the East, imported millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain.  It was the Chinese workmanship and attention to detail that impressed so many where only the richest could afford these early imports.

This vase is found in the Pushkin Museum, Russia as a representation of early fine Delftware imitating fine Chinese porcelain circa 1680.

The early Dutch potters began to imitate the Chinese porcelain - with acute attention to detail and artistry provoking emotions of joy and fond remembrance of life living in Amsterdam during it's Golden Age.

As I ruminate this time period and the Delft potters paintings, I conclude how appealing to me, this idea, that authentic 17th century life in Amsterdam was captured and fired onto hand made porcelain tiles.  No archaeologist needed to understand what a slice of life was like during this time period...which seems to me tranquil and idyllic.  Observing children at play or the numerable ships coming into port - artists retold seemingly happy stories unfolding before them.

I also am amused that Delft tiles at this time where of course for the rich...adorning palaces and great kitchens...

This photo is the kitchen of the Amalienburg, Nymphenburg Palace...and shall I bring your attention to the hexagon terra cotta tiles?  Antique French hexagon terra cotta tiles, perhaps?

This photo above is an antique Delft tile installation of a swimming pool in the same palace.

And this room is found in the Chateau de Groussay, Montfort near Paris with an installation of 10,000 antique Delft tiles.

The following photo below is one of my favorite for it's artistry and color of the antique Delft tile...

which happens to be a toilet in the Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.

Here is a photo of a fireplace...an installation found in the home of...

Victor Hugo...in his dining room, Hauteville House, Guernesey 1860.

On our trip to Amsterdam this summer, walking through Rembrandt's house...

Rembrandt installed a Delft Tile baseboard.

And finally, this wonderful 17th century historic kitchen in the Hospice Comtesse, Lille France. 

Please note the antique Belgian bluestone flooring and the antique terra cotta bricks in the fireplace. It never ceases to amaze me how lasting and beautiful there historic decorative materials are....

But onto my second point - that these 17th century Delft tiles also found themselves in humble dwellings - like this old farmhouse interior in Hoogland near Utrecht.

Or this classic farmhouse in Amsterdam where the yellow wall marries so beautifully with the blue delft tile ships.  I imagine this farmhouse is near one of the busy shipping ports or maybe even a ship captain's home?

But I cannot help continue to ponder deeper why I am drawn to Delft tile, aside from it's historical perspective. Perhaps it's the blue glaze.  Rolling with this idea. I researched the color blue and from a psychological perspective, "the color blue reduces stress, creates a sense of calmness, relaxation and order...it is also considered a nostalgic and most universally liked color." 

Yes - I can understand this.  But there is something more.  I have concluded that when I observe an entire wall, or room for that matter, of finely painted Delft tiles - the juxtaposition of the tiles, each telling it's own story, communicates charmingly with it's neighbor. This in turn creates a larger narrative which makes my imagination soar. (This is a good thing...) Following this - the intricateness of the paintings become interconnected as a final abstract form - essentially creating larger geometric patterns that imposes upon a room a grander scale of visual delight.

Phew!  Who ever thought so much about Delft tile???  Well, that would be me - and it began when I was a child sitting in some sort of tea parlor.  It was a sunny day - I recall white trim and delft tiles reflecting into my vision from every corner of the room.  I was mesmerized - certainly one of "those" moments frozen in time as if it were yesterday.

When I began working with François in 2000, I could not stop dreaming about painting my own Delft tile collection.  I wanted to, perhaps, relive this Golden age of Amsterdam where life seemed endlessly charming and idyllic.  I was able to paint my own antiqued Delft tile collection for our company.  Here are a few of my tiles below.  You can see the entire collection here: 17th Century Antiqued Delft Tile Collection

My antique Delft tile collection took years to accomplish in partnership with François.  We fire the tiles at our facility then hand crackle them piece by piece. I feel we recreated and offer an antiqued Delft Tile Collection that encapsulates my own style...yet remains authentic to the artisanal craft of 17th century antique Delft tile making.

If you are interested in viewing my Dutch 17th Century Antiqued Delft Tile Collection, please click here.

Thank you for your time in reading this blog.

Emmi Micallef, Co-Founder

Historic Decorative Materials, a division of Pavé Tile, Wood & Stone, Inc.

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