Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden History of Delftware and the Women Behind the Iconic Ceramic

by Genevieve Wheeler Brown

Genres: History, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Madeleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was so well thought through, and a joy to read. It felt like the author genuinely loved exploring the history of Delftware, and that enthusiasm made me excited to keep reading. I thought the illustrations were really well chosen, and appreciated that they showed not just Delft pottery but also the environments where it would be displayed; the engravings of interiors, the social contexts, etc. They really made it easier to imagine the world this pottery was created in, and it felt totally immersive to read about things like historical royal gardens featuring giant Delftware vases and displays and then see illustrations of examples of those vases!

I immediately went to look up whether the author had other books out, and didn't see any others yet. So, publishing world, please publish more of her books! I want to read them! This is the kind of art history perspective I'm always wishing there was more of. A genuine, enthusiastic exploration of a facet of art history that I hadn't looked into before, giving an in-depth look at the world behind some really interesting crafts, with a focus on women's overlooked artistic work. I want to read so many books like this. I picked this off of the art history shelves of my local bookstore and bought it simply because I've been curious about the history of different kinds of pottery, and I'm so very glad I did.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read about the history of Delftware and the women that shaped it: from widows that ran production houses to New York’s elite building museums to save it.

[Kidlitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific history that reads like a good novel. I will never look at a piece of Delftware the same way again.

[luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! Brown did a wonderful job at highlighting the history of Delftware, especially on such a broad scale.

[Stuart Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of the intersection between Dutch and American women from the 17th century on based on the famous "blue and white" pottery developed in Delft.