Decorative blue and white ceramic tiles commonly found in Dutch households were originally made in the city of Delft They often depict familiar scenes of the Netherlands beautiful landscapes ubiquitous windmills and people working and playing In the nineteenth century Charles Dickens wrote in his book A Christmas Carol how these tiles were used to illustrate the Scriptures He described an old fireplace built by a Dutchman paved with these quaint Delft tiles ldquo There were Cains and Abels Pharaohs rsquo daughters Queens of Sheba and Apostles putting off to sea rdquo Many households used these tiles as a teaching
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