Delft Embroidery

Modern example of Delft embroidery.

From the sixteenth century, the city of Delft in the Netherlands was famous for the production of tin-glazed earthenware, especially tiles, which were exported throughout the world. Many of these objects had simple blue on white designs that were later used as a source of embroidery patterns. In the USA, these patterns became known as Delft embroidery.

Embroideries embellished with this type of design were still being produced in the late twentieth century, especially in the form of cross stitch embroidery kits. The range of designs includes flowers in vases (especially tulips), seascapes with small boats, windmills and so forth.