The Royal Dutch Mint and Royal Delft join forces with the Official restrike: Ducaton "Silver Rider" - Royal Delft edition
Restrike Ducaton in Delft Blue coin holder
2019 offers, in remembrance of the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt's death, a unique chance to highlight Rembrandt & the Golden Age the entire year. As two centuries-old companies, both of which originated from craftsmanship, Royal Delft and the Royal Dutch Mint have joined forces. Together we will take you on a journey into the rich history of the Netherlands in the Golden Age with a beautiful issue in a very exclusive Delft Blue coin holder. On this page you will discover how this unique coin holder is produced. The painting on the holder shows the minting of coins in the Golden Age. In the coin holder you will find a restrike of an original Ducaton "Silver Rider", according to many the most beautiful coin ever issued. The Ducaton is a silver coin and was considered legal tender from the 16th until the 18th century. The coin is also the equivalent of the Golden Ducat.
Royal Delft is the only remaining, original Delftware manufacturer from the 17th century. At the end of the 18thcentury, less attention was paid to Delft Blue, reason for which almost all potteries were forced to close down. When Joost Thooft took over the factory in 1876, he improved the production process in such a way making an even more beautiful and high quality product which brought Delfts Blue into a revival. Up to the present day Royal Delft uses this method of producing which is the worldwide standard of nowadays Delft Blue.
Royal Delft and the Royal Dutch Mint are joining forces to bring a traditional product to the market. The Official Restrike: Ducaton "Silver Rider" - Royal Delft edition is a beautiful end product of this special collaboration. This issue will be packaged in a very special coin holder, made by Royal Delft. But how is this Delft Blue coin holder made? We have sorted it out for you.
The production process of Delft earthenware starts with the composition of the clay. It is made up of about 10 raw materials, of which kaolin, chalk, feldspar and quartz are the most essential. The raw materials are carefully mixed with water until they become a liquid mass.
The liquid clay is poured into plaster moulds, which are hollow inside and consist of several pieces. The inside of the mould has been filled up with the clay. The porous plaster sucks up the water from the clay, leaving a layer of dry clay on its interior walls. When the clay has reached the right thickness, the liquid surplus is poured off.
After some time, the clay is hard enough to be taken out of the mould without being deformed. After air drying, the seams or irregularities have been carefully removed. A secure work that determines the final shape of the coin holder.
The coin holder gets a special layer of liquid clay called ’engobe’ After that the object is put into the kiln to be fired for the first time, at a temperature of 1160°C (2120°F). After 24 hours the body, which is now referred to as 'biscuit', is taken out of the kiln.
Please note: the coin holder in the photo is the first model. The Official restrike: Ducaton "Silver Rider" - Royal Delft edition is in a coin holder decorated with Transfer Delft Blue.
The Delftware painters then paint the traditional Royal Delft decorations on the articles entirely by hand. This is done with brushes made of the hairs of martens and squirrels, and black paint containing cobalt oxide. The cobalt brings about a chemical reaction during the firing process, changing the colour from black to blue. The paint is based on water, enabling the painters to create various shades of blue by adding more or less water.
Becoming a master painter at Royal Delft is an internal training course which takes about eight years. After that they are able to decorate and design according to the Royal Delft DNA.
The decorated coin holders are then glazed. This is done either by dipping into the glaze or by spraying. The glaze covers the decoration with a non-transparent layer of white. Now the coin holder will be fired in the oven for 24 hours. During the second firing process, which is done at a temperature of 1200 °C (2192 °F), the glaze melts into a translucent layer of glass and the black paint turns blue. A chemical and physical reaction between the clay, engobe, paint and glaze is decisive for the typical Delft Blue colour.
The final step of our production process is the quality check. Every piece is inspected from top to bottom to decide it can be put to sale as a “Premium“ Royal Delft product. Royal Delft is the only remaining, original Delftware manufacturer from the 17th century. At the end of the 18thcentury, less attention was paid to Delft Blue, reason for which almost all potteries were forced to close down. When Joost Thooft took over the factory in 1876, he improved the production process in such a way making an even more beautiful and high quality product which brought Delfts Blue into a revival. Up to the present day Royal Delft uses this method of producing which is the worldwide standard of nowadays Delft Blue.
Royal Delft and the Royal Dutch Mint are joining forces to bring a traditional product to the market. The Official Restrike: Ducaton "Silver Rider" - Royal Delft edition is a beautiful end product of this special collaboration. This issue will be packaged in a very special coin holder, made by Royal Delft. But how is this Delft Blue coin holder made? We have sorted it out for you.
The production process of Delft earthenware starts with the composition of the clay. It is made up of about 10 raw materials, of which kaolin, chalk, feldspar and quartz are the most essential. The raw materials are carefully mixed with water until they become a liquid mass.
The liquid clay is poured into plaster moulds, which are hollow inside and consist of several pieces. The inside of the mould has been filled up with the clay. The porous plaster sucks up the water from the clay, leaving a layer of dry clay on its interior walls. When the clay has reached the right thickness, the liquid surplus is poured off.
After some time, the clay is hard enough to be taken out of the mould without being deformed. After air drying, the seams or irregularities have been carefully removed. A secure work that determines the final shape of the coin holder.
The coin holder gets a special layer of liquid clay called ’engobe’ After that the object is put into the kiln to be fired for the first time, at a temperature of 1160°C (2120°F). After 24 hours the body, which is now referred to as 'biscuit', is taken out of the kiln.
The Delftware painters then paint the traditional Royal Delft decorations on the articles entirely by hand. This is done with brushes made of the hairs of martens and squirrels, and black paint containing cobalt oxide. The cobalt brings about a chemical reaction during the firing process, changing the colour from black to blue. The paint is based on water, enabling the painters to create various shades of blue by adding more or less water.
Becoming a master painter at Royal Delft is an internal training course which takes about eight years. After that they are able to decorate and design according to the Royal Delft DNA.
The decorated coin holders are then glazed. This is done either by dipping into the glaze or by spraying. The glaze covers the decoration with a non-transparent layer of white. Now the coin holder will be fired in the oven for 24 hours. During the second firing process, which is done at a temperature of 1200 °C (2192 °F), the glaze melts into a translucent layer of glass and the black paint turns blue. A chemical and physical reaction between the clay, engobe, paint and glaze is decisive for the typical Delft Blue colour.
The final step of our production process is the quality check. Every piece is inspected from top to bottom to decide it can be put to sale as a “Premium“ Royal Delft product.
Royal Delft and the Royal Dutch Mint are joining forces to bring a traditional product to the market. The Official Restrike: Ducaton "Silver Rider" - Royal Delft edition is a beautiful end product of this special collaboration. This issue will be packaged in a very special coin holder, made by Royal Delft. But how is this Delft Blue coin holder made? We have sorted it out for you.
Step 1 - The raw materials
The production process of Delft earthenware starts with the composition of the clay. It is made up of about 10 raw materials, of which kaolin, chalk, feldspar and quartz are the most essential. The raw materials are carefully mixed with water until they become a liquid mass.
Step 2 - Pouring the clay
The liquid clay is poured into plaster moulds, which are hollow inside and consist of several pieces. The inside of the mould has been filled up with the clay. The porous plaster sucks up the water from the clay, leaving a layer of dry clay on its interior walls. When the clay has reached the right thickness, the liquid surplus is poured off.
Step 3 – Sponging
After some time, the clay is hard enough to be taken out of the mould without being deformed. After air drying, the seams or irregularities have been carefully removed. A secure work that determines the final shape of the coin holder.
Step 4 - Spraying & Firing
The coin holder gets a special layer of liquid clay called ’engobe’ After that the object is put into the kiln to be fired for the first time, at a temperature of 1160°C (2120°F). After 24 hours the body, which is now referred to as 'biscuit', is taken out of the kiln.
Step 5 – Decorating the coin holder
Please note: the coin holder in the photo is the first model. The Official restrike: Ducaton "Silver Rider" - Royal Delft edition is in a coin holder decorated with Transfer Delft Blue.
The Delftware painters then paint the traditional Royal Delft decorations on the articles entirely by hand. This is done with brushes made of the hairs of martens and squirrels, and black paint containing cobalt oxide. The cobalt brings about a chemical reaction during the firing process, changing the colour from black to blue. The paint is based on water, enabling the painters to create various shades of blue by adding more or less water.
Becoming a master painter at Royal Delft is an internal training course which takes about eight years. After that they are able to decorate and design according to the Royal Delft DNA.
Step 6 - Glazing & Firing
The decorated coin holders are then glazed. This is done either by dipping into the glaze or by spraying. The glaze covers the decoration with a non-transparent layer of white. Now the coin holder will be fired in the oven for 24 hours. During the second firing process, which is done at a temperature of 1200 °C (2192 °F), the glaze melts into a translucent layer of glass and the black paint turns blue. A chemical and physical reaction between the clay, engobe, paint and glaze is decisive for the typical Delft Blue colour.
Step 7 – Quality check
The final step of our production process is the quality check. Every piece is inspected from top to bottom to decide it can be put to sale as a “Premium“ Royal Delft product. Royal Delft is the only remaining, original Delftware manufacturer from the 17th century. At the end of the 18thcentury, less attention was paid to Delft Blue, reason for which almost all potteries were forced to close down. When Joost Thooft took over the factory in 1876, he improved the production process in such a way making an even more beautiful and high quality product which brought Delfts Blue into a revival. Up to the present day Royal Delft uses this method of producing which is the worldwide standard of nowadays Delft Blue.
Royal Delft and the Royal Dutch Mint are joining forces to bring a traditional product to the market. The Official Restrike: Ducaton "Silver Rider" - Royal Delft edition is a beautiful end product of this special collaboration. This issue will be packaged in a very special coin holder, made by Royal Delft. But how is this Delft Blue coin holder made? We have sorted it out for you.
Step 1 - The raw materials
The production process of Delft earthenware starts with the composition of the clay. It is made up of about 10 raw materials, of which kaolin, chalk, feldspar and quartz are the most essential. The raw materials are carefully mixed with water until they become a liquid mass.
Step 2 - Pouring the clay
The liquid clay is poured into plaster moulds, which are hollow inside and consist of several pieces. The inside of the mould has been filled up with the clay. The porous plaster sucks up the water from the clay, leaving a layer of dry clay on its interior walls. When the clay has reached the right thickness, the liquid surplus is poured off.
Step 3 – Sponging
After some time, the clay is hard enough to be taken out of the mould without being deformed. After air drying, the seams or irregularities have been carefully removed. A secure work that determines the final shape of the coin holder.
Step 4 - Spraying & Firing
The coin holder gets a special layer of liquid clay called ’engobe’ After that the object is put into the kiln to be fired for the first time, at a temperature of 1160°C (2120°F). After 24 hours the body, which is now referred to as 'biscuit', is taken out of the kiln.
Step 5 – Decorating the coin holder
The Delftware painters then paint the traditional Royal Delft decorations on the articles entirely by hand. This is done with brushes made of the hairs of martens and squirrels, and black paint containing cobalt oxide. The cobalt brings about a chemical reaction during the firing process, changing the colour from black to blue. The paint is based on water, enabling the painters to create various shades of blue by adding more or less water.
Becoming a master painter at Royal Delft is an internal training course which takes about eight years. After that they are able to decorate and design according to the Royal Delft DNA.
Step 6 - Glazing & Firing
The decorated coin holders are then glazed. This is done either by dipping into the glaze or by spraying. The glaze covers the decoration with a non-transparent layer of white. Now the coin holder will be fired in the oven for 24 hours. During the second firing process, which is done at a temperature of 1200 °C (2192 °F), the glaze melts into a translucent layer of glass and the black paint turns blue. A chemical and physical reaction between the clay, engobe, paint and glaze is decisive for the typical Delft Blue colour.
Step 7 – Quality check
The final step of our production process is the quality check. Every piece is inspected from top to bottom to decide it can be put to sale as a “Premium“ Royal Delft product.