Faience production in Delft expanded rapidly in the 17th century, from eight potteries in 1625 to no fewer than 33 in 1700. Each workshop could produce several thousand items a week.
Things changed from the late 17th century onwards, as the number of workshops began to decline. But the industry experienced a revival in the late 19th century, led by De Porceleyne Fles, which since 1858 had been the only remaining Dutch delftware factory in the town.
Faience is still produced in Delft today, though production techniques have changed since the 17th and 18th centuries. The histories of the 33 known 17th- and 18th-century potteries are recounted briefly below.
