In May 1998 I visited, for the first time, De Delftse Pauw, a pottery art factory, located in Delft, The Netherlands. This is one of the two official
factories in the Netherlands which produces the famous Delft Blue pottery, known all over the world. You might be surprised to know that there is also
coloured Delftware and even black. I was told though , that the black line was discontinued many years ago. Our guide took us through all the
manufactural stages of how this Delft pottery is produced. All pieces are completely handpainted.The typical colours are achieved by chemical
reaction. The artists have to know precicely what they are doing to get the effect they are seeking. The decorations are still the same beautiful
designs as were used in the past.I bought two small vases for myself. The vases have the same design painted on them, except one is Delft
blue and the other Coloured Delft. Here you can see our very pleasant and knowledgeable guide explaining to us what the slush looks like of which the pottery is made , the functioning of the kilns and how the
pottery is baked,using the original molds.The Delftse Pauw is one of the very few places left which produces original Delft pottery in the old
fatherland tradition. On each piece you can find a handpainted seal which proves that this piece is an original Delft Blauw pottery. There are many
imitators and most of the "Delft" pottery you see in the souvenir shops is mass produced for the tourist trade.Even in Delft you can find artists who
have their own shop and do handpaint "Delft" pieces. I bought a piece in such a shop from a Yugoslav artist who came to The Netherlands 6 years ago and who used to work at one of the official factories to
learn the trade. He also uses his own designs and handpainted seal, but this pottery is not considered to be original Delft Blue pottery. On the
left you can see him wrapping the pillbox that I bought from him. He used to be a sculptor and do restaurations in churches in his own country.

The seals that are painted on the bottom of the pottery from the official factories are legally registered trademarks , registered with the Chamber
of Commerce in Delft.  On the right you can see the four trademarks of the Delftse Pauw factory. The Delftse Pauw factory has a webside. 
 Their e-mail address is : info@delftsepauw.com

Incidentally, the city of Delft is an utterly quaint and charming place to visit. It is a University town and I am sure the students who have the
pleasure of studying there will have a wonderful time. Delft has many old Dutch houses with beautiful facades. My father studied architecture there
many years ago, at the Delft University of Technology.

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