Verwoerd Ceramics Online

The Verwoerd Ceramics Online museum undertakes to collect, study, preserve, and exhibit original specimen from the former Verwoerd ceramics workshop of Gouda, the Netherlands. Its collection includes Delft medallions, miniature clay pipes, and contemporary ceramic art jewellery. Serious collectors of Delft Jewellery (Delft Jewelry) 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 Workshop (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 jewellery, 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 jewellery. 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 jewellery 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: RARE DELFT SAILBOATS
Our new exposition features Delft medallions that have been decorated with blue and white sailing boat scenes. Sailing vessels once were the main means of transport on Dutch lakes, rivers, and canals. Today they are broadly appreciated and admired as an important part of Dutch heritage. However, as a Dutch symbol abroad, the little blue ships were never on a par with windmills, tulips, and clogs. As a result hand painted Delft sailboat jewelry is today relatively rare. For this online exhibition we have made a selection from our museum collection with, amongst others, a late 19th century Japonaiserie ships brooch by the Porceleyne Fles factory of Delft. There is also a number of rare sailing boat decorations by the flamboyant Pieter Woerlee, and we show a very early 1949 bracelet by Cornelis Verwoerd. They all feature in our section of changing expositions "On Display Now".

The Gouda Pottery List
The Verwoerd Ceramics Workshop 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 more than 140 companies that have been active after 1945...
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Contemporary Ceramic Art Jewellery
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 handpainted? Please contact our helpdesk...
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