Developed in the Dutch city of Delft during the late 1500s as a local response to imported Chinese porcelain, these tiles were popular in New Netherland and New York, and were used on walls, hearths, and fireplace surrounds.
Traditional motifs included pastoral landscapes, sailing ships, biblical stories, animals, and floral patterns.
Long-time archaeologist Dr. Paul Huey has recently brought a seemingly rare tile to new light while producing a forthcoming report on archaeological excavations at the Schulyer Flatts site north of Albany…