Chemkefa (1969 – today)

Chemkefa is the abbreviated name of Chemisch Keramisch Fabriek, which was started by the former Sphinx employee Leendert Zwikker when the Sphinx factory closed in 1969. Located in Maastricht, Chemkefa specializes in screenprinted blue & white decorative Delftware chargers with traditional Dutch scenes, including landscapes, seascapes, and scenes from life. Perhaps the most popular design is that of a wedding couple in a horse-drawn carriage, based on a painting by Eerelman from 1839. Chemkefa also produces its own designs, including a set of four seasons plates. Following in Sphinx’s footsteps, Chemkefa uses a very dark blue paint, however Chemkefa avoids the use of borders around the edges in order to simplify the transfer printing process. Chemkefa’s printed mark includes the words Delfts Blauw Chemkefa made in Holland Maastricht and features a crown, a flower, a triangle, and a flask.

Reference: Van Hook, Stephen J., Discovering Dutch Delftware: Modern Delft and Makkum Pottery (Alexandria, VA: Glen Park Press, 1998).

DELFTWARE

The European craze for blue and white Chinese export porcelain in the 17th century lead to the development of the Dutch East India Company, which imported millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain as well as other Chinese wares. In 1620, the death of Wan-Li (Ming Dynasty) interrupted the flow of goods to Europe. Dutch potters from the city of Delft quickly filled the gap in the market with their own production of blue and white ceramics that duplicated the look of Chinese export porcelain by using the tin-glazing technique learned from the Italians. The Delft potters were the first northerners to imitate the tin-glazed earthenware pottery of Italian majolica, or faience. Production of Delftware proliferated and by 1700 there were more than 30 factories in production of high-quality pieces in the city of Delft.

Delftware drew on Chinese designs for inspiration, but also developed European patterns. Decorative plates were made in abundance and featured native Dutch scenes with windmills and fishing boats, hunting scenes, landscapes, seascapes, and scenes of people in daily life. When Chinese exports re-entered the European market by 1685, they came back in color, especially in greens and pinks. This sparked the production of Polychrome Delft, which refers to the use of colors other than blue and white. Besides the popular cobalt blue on a white background, Delft potters had a full color range that consisted of yellow, orange, brown, green, purple, dark red, and black.

Despite the huge success of Delftware manufacturers, the market for Delftware eroded through the 18th century until eventually only one factory in Delft remained in existence. Joost Thooft bought the last remaining Delftware factory, De Porceleyne Fles, in 1876. Since that time, over one hundred potteries have come back into existence producing what is known as modern Delftware, which no longer uses the tin glazing method of majolica.

In the period from 1876 to 1940, many high-quality, beautiful pieces of Delftware were produced. The transfer printing process was also brought back at this time. After World War II, tourism began to play a larger role in the Dutch economy. More Delftware companies opened in the 1950s to 1970s, specializing in pieces made for the tourist trade. Delftware has been produced in Holland, Belgium, Germany, England, Japan, and the US, and is still in production today.