Verwoerd Ceramics Online

The Verwoerd Ceramics Online museum undertakes to collect, study, preserve, and exhibit original specimen from the former Verwoerd Ceramics Studio of Gouda, the Netherlands. Its collection includes Delft medallions, miniature clay pipes, and contemporary ceramic art jewelry. Serious collectors of Delft Jewelry (Delft Jewellery) may want to learn more about the production process, distinguish between hand painted and transfer printed Delft, and learn to recognize and appreciate the beauty of a genuine Verwoerd piece. The Museum also undertakes to assist private collectors and public Museums in establishing the authenticity of individual Verwoerd specimen.

The Verwoerd Studio (1949-1976)
After WW2, Verwoerd establishes his own ceramics workshop in Gouda by the name of "C.Verwoerd Keramiek Atelier", and specializes in the production of miniature Delft medallions for application in silver jewelry, like brooches, bracelets, and pendants. His work stands out - even in comparison with other hand painted specimen - because of its painterly quality...
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Manufacturing Delft Medallions
How exactly are they made? Are they pottery or porcelain? Are they signed, and what does the signature tell us? All you should know about Delft medallions...
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Dutch and Schoonhoven Silver Marks
Silver hallmarks can be very useful for dating Delft jewelry. In 1953 Dutch assay marks have been adjusted to internationally accepted standards, thus creating a clear division of silver items produced before and after that event. Furthermore, as Delft jewelry typically is a marriage of Delft pottery inserts and silver from the Dutch city of Schoonhoven, there is valuable dating information in the Schoonhoven silversmiths Maker's Marks...
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News

ON DISPLAY NOW: DELFT JEWELRY SIGNATURES
Our new presentation is a compact guide to all major manufacturers of Delft stones, and the signatures by which they can be indentified. There is no harm in a little help in this respect. Interpreting signatures on many Delft medallions isn't straightforward. If there is a signature, it may simply say 'Delfts' or 'Delfts Holland'. Any addition is a bonus. This is especially true for the specialist producers of Delft stones, such as Verwoerd, Van Katwijk, and Olthuysen. The reason is that Delft jewelry inserts are in fact intermediate products and their manufacturers were primarily known to the silversmith clients. These well kept trade secrets can now be revealed. The larger factories such as Royal Delft, Plateelbakkerij Delft, Zenith, Schoonhoven, and Goedewaagen, who commonly sold a broad product line under a well established brand name, can more easily be identified if you know what to look for. All feature in our successful series "On Display Now".

The Gouda Pottery List
The Verwoerd Ceramics Studio was certainly not the only Gouda pottery that has been started or revived after WW2. New opportunities after the war have caused a brief but impressive revival of the Gouda pottery industry. Although most companies have ceased to exist by now, our section of Gouda region potteries presents an overview of 150 companies that have been active after 1945...
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Contemporary Ceramic Art Jewelry
In 1957 and 1958 the Verwoerd workshop produced a small number of ceramic necklaces and bracelets that were especially designed to fit the female neckline and wrist, and that featured some exquisite glazing. The project was quite successful in an artistic sense. However, the production proved to be highly time consuming, and was discontinued after 1958...
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Museum Helpdesk
Have you got a question on Delft medallions? Do you want to know if your item is by the Verwoerd Studio? If not, does the maker feature in The Gouda Pottery List? Is it hand painted? Please contact our helpdesk...
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