Hi Dan,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Delftware emerged in the 17th century, when Dutch potters developed tin-glazed earthenware that imitated expensive Chinese blue-and-white porcelain arriving through the Dutch East India Company. As Chinese imports became scarce during periods of political upheaval, Dutch potters created their own distinctive style. Even modern Delft-style tiles evoke this celebrated era of Dutch commerce, exploration, and artistic achievement.

Unlike plain ceramic wall tiles, Delft tiles often depict windmills, sailing ships, biblical scenes, children at play, rural landscapes, animals and birds, trades and occupations, and floral and geometric motifs. Each functions almost like a miniature painting, encouraging collectors to study the details and assemble thematic groups.

Your group leans heavily towards the sailing ships and windmills themes, with the two polychrome (colorful) examples showing trades and occupations; here a woman harvesting wheat (which has, unfortunately, been broken and repaired) and a man with a staff.

The tiles with the impressed marks are comparatively modern and made by Royal Tichelaar pottery, in the Frisian town of Makkum. The marks shows the Crown and crossed script Ts; the Z, which is an internal production mark, and the letter combination date marks that correspond to 1968 (FH), 1970 (GO) and 1971 (GA). When such modern Delft style tiles come to auction, they usually bring between $25 and $50 each.

I can't identify the maker of the other tiles - the dark marks don't align with specific potters or potteries. From the back, they look a little earlier than the Royal Tichelaar tiles and were almost certainly made in the first half of the 20th Century, though the polychrome tiles likely date to the 19th Century

As a general rule, polychrome tiles are more desirable to collectors than blue and white ones, with older ones being worth more than more modern ones and ones by identifiable makers warranting a higher value than unattributed ones.

Taken all together, and considering the wear (and in the case of the larger polychrome example, damage and repair), this group would probably sell for between $400 and $600 at auction.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A group of Delft tiles
The Netherlands, 19th and 20th Century
Comprising: seven blue and white tiles of sailing ships and windmills, with two polychrome trade tiles, some with impressed Royal Tichelaar Makkum marks dated to 1968, 1970 and 1971.
Blue and white tiles: 5 x 5 inches
Polychrome tiles: 5 x 5 inches and approximately 4 x 4 inches
CONDITION: With wear commensurate to age and use
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 400-600*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia