The Rich History of Royal Tichelaar Makkum

Cycle and pedestrian tunnel Central Station, Amsterdam. Tile scene by Tichelaar Makkum.

Pottery, ceramics, and more specifically–Delftware, are some of The Netherlands’ most iconic and prized art pieces. And one of the most famous manufacturers of these items? Royal Tichelaar Makkum (Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum in Dutch)! Read on to learn about this 450-year-old institution and why we’re still such huge fans of it today!  

What is Royal Tichelaar Makkum?

Royal Tichelaar Makkum is one of the most iconic ceramics companies in The Netherlands. It’s based in a village called Makkum located in the Súdwest-Fryslân municipality. Royal Tichelaar Makkum is actually the oldest ceramics company that is still operating today! It was founded as early as 1572 but their history wasn’t always as clear as it is today. In fact, it wasn’t until 2007 that a map was found from 1572 that showed the first brick factory belonging to the company in the village of Makkum. Back in 1689, a brick maker named Freerk Jans Tichelaar purchased half of the company and then bought the other half five years later. Since then, the company has been operated and owned by other members of the Tichelaar family through the years.

Originally, the company was known for their brick and tile work, but in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they were primarily focused on creating dishware and ceramic tiles. These items were made with a mixture of German clay and clay that was dug up in Makkum’s neighboring countryside. In the mid-late 1800’s, the want for dishes slowly started to decrease so the company pivoted once again. Tichelaar brothers Jelmer and Jan realized that they could use their craft to create unique and stunning decorative pottery. This was right around the time that plaster molds were being introduced into the market which means they could use these molds to increase the variety of pottery pieces they were creating. Just like their previous works, these pottery pieces were made using local clay that was then covered in a white tin glaze.

Prime Minister Rutte and President Obama speaking in front of a replica of a 17th-century flower pyramid that Tichelaar Makkum made for the Rijksmuseum. The original flower pyramid was made in 1695 by the Delftware pottery ‘De Grieksche A’, which made earthenware in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Photo: Dave de Vaal

One of their most iconic pieces is a replica of a traditional flower pyramid. The original piece was made centuries ago to display The Netherlands’ beautiful tulips. The reproduction was used as the centerpiece in the meeting between former U.S. President Barack Obama and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the Rijksmuseum in 2014. During the meeting, the piece was filled with tulips in a range of colors to show off the country’s Delftware and stunning florals. Today, one of Royal Tichelaar Makkum’s traditional flower pyramids is being sold for over €73,000 by a gallery in London.

The Impact of Royal Tichelaar Makkum Today

In the late 90’s, Royal Tichelaar Makkum shifted their strategy to counteract the copies of their pieces being made at a mass-produced level. Today, the company works with designers and architects to create custom ceramic pieces that clad buildings. That said, they do note that each year they produce a limited run of their famous decorative pottery and tiles for anyone wishing to get their hands on an official Royal Tichelaar Makkum piece.

Instead of making mass-produced items, they invite architects to reach out to them during the concept phase of building to create something truly one-of-a-kind. They call this service ‘co-creation.’ One of their more recent projects has been the extension of the Museum de Fundatie which is located in Zwolle, The Netherlands. The goal was to create a new and unique space in the museum for exhibitions. The lead architect on the job had a vision of creating a 3-D ellipsoid for the project and Royal Tichelaar Makkum got to work. Royal Tichelaar Makkum crafted over 50,000 ceramic tiles in shades of white and blue to give the appearance of the building blending into the sky.

Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle, The Netherlands

Why We Still Love Them

Although they’re no longer focused solely on making decorative pottery today, their influence and second-to-none craftsmanship still lives on. Their famous designs, history, and techniques continue to inspire millions worldwide whether they’re decorating their home or creating a new piece of art. We know they are a huge inspiration to us here at Amitābha Studio and here is why:

Craftsmanship

Through the centuries, the way we manufacture things has become less about the quality of the items and more about the quantity. This thinking is exactly what we’re trying to move away from with Amitābha Studio. Our mission is to create modern, exciting, statement design lamps out of antique & vintage Delft vases. We prefer antique & vintage Delftware not only because of the timeless design, but because of the quality of craftsmanship that goes behind it.

Although Royal Tichelaar Makkum has been around for many centuries, the quality of their work has never changed. From brick making to dishes to pottery to now ceramics for buildings, it’s always been the same with a focus on both design and high standards.  

Making Old Techniques New Again

Speaking of high quality, did you know that Royal Tichelaar Makkum still uses many of the same techniques as they did when the company was first founded? The company knows that they’re experienced in doing what they do, so why fix something that is not broken? But while they’re still using many of the same manufacturing techniques, they’re also bringing new technology into the mix. Most recently, they’ve started to dabble in 3-D ceramic printing. This newer technology allows for quality ceramics to have the appearance of movement and fluidity that traditional ceramics could never have.

Timeless, Unique Pieces

On top of all of this, their pottery and tile work continue to influence popular designs decades after they were created! And they’re also not afraid to take something old and make it new again (which is what we’re all about at Amitābha Studio!) For example, in 2008 they challenged a group of five artists to create a fresh take on their traditional pyramid (also known as tulip towers) design as a restoration project for the The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. These new tulip towers were new and exciting but still incorporated many of the design elements that the traditional piece boasted. We love the mindset of not having to sacrifice timeless designs while also making them more modern!

If you’re interested in adding some fresh yet classic Dutch style into your home, check out our range of reimagined table lamps made from antique and vintage Delft vases!