By Ines Keane
A Frisian village on the IJsselmeer has a pottery whose founding date depends on which source you read.
Makkum lies on the IJsselmeer in Friesland, west of Bolsward.
The pottery, and its dates
Royal Tichelaar Makkum is the reason this village appears in a craft guide. Here the sources part company.
The sources we read, Wikipedia and a family-business magazine profile, give founding and family dates that do not match each other, so we give none. If a date matters to you, ask the firm which one it uses and why.
What it makes
Royal Tichelaar Makkum makes tin-glazed earthenware in the majolica technique. Ask the firm what it makes, which techniques it uses, and where the clay comes from.
Visiting
We have not confirmed whether the works can be visited, or what the opening hours are. If you are planning a trip, ask the village’s tourist office or the firm directly.
What to ask
If you hold a piece of Makkum earthenware, turn it over and look for the maker’s mark. Ask whether the piece was painted by hand or printed, and whether it is tin-glazed majolica. Ask where the clay comes from, and when the design was made.
We have not profiled any maker in Makkum beyond what the sources say about the firm, and we are not recommending a purchase.
Roam first. Shop later.