NO RESERVE 17th Century Delft Tiles – Hand-Painted Blue & White Faience Panel A rare and authentic pair of 17th century Dutch Delft tin-glazed earthenware tiles, hand-painted in cobalt blue on a white ground and later mounted within a simple wooden display frame. Each tile depicts an exotic animal study within an architectural cartouche — one showing a reclining feline-like creature and the other a camel or ostrich-like beast — executed in the distinctive early Delft manner. The tiles display the characteristic features of early Delftware production, including a soft tin-glazed surface, expressive freehand cobalt decoration, visible brushwork, firing irregularities, glaze pooling, and age-related crazing. The naïve animal renderings and ornamental framing motifs are highly typical of late 17th century Dutch decorative tile work influenced by Oriental ceramics and global trade imagery of the period. Both tiles show genuine period wear consistent with their age, including small chips, staining, and an old crack running through one tile. The surfaces possess the depth, softness, and irregularity associated with authentic early Delft faience rather than later reproductions. Restored Mounted in a later wooden frame for display. Dutch, late 17th century. Dimensions approximately: Frame: 32 × 17 × 4 cm Weight: approx. 1.5 kg Condition: Age-related wear throughout including glaze crazing, firing imperfections, chips, losses, staining, and an old stable crack to one tile. Later mounting and frame. An attractive and increasingly collectible example of early Delft decorative tile work with strong folk-art charm and excellent decorative presence. Description written by ChatGPT Similar tile descriptions can be found here: https://www.frideslameris.nl/detail/post/15022