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Delft  Tiles

FIRST CHURCH IN ALBANY OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA
Seven Delft tiles commemorating the occupation and liberation of the Netherlands in World War II
Property of The First Church in Albany
Gift of church member Jannetje Muller Pelton from Delft
Research by Thomas Allison, First Church in Albany

Picture
​Tile 1 (Nazi Serpant)         Verzet  “Resistance”
Den Vaderlant Chetrouwe   “Loyalty to the Fatherland”  (first line of Dutch national anthem)

Picture
​Tile 2 (Airplane Mother and Child)         Voedsel Vrede Vrijheid  “Food Drops  Freedom  Peace"
29 April  Liberation of Dachau  5 May British & Canadian Liberation of Netherlands.

Picture
​Tile 3 (Lion rampant)      Nederland Zal Herruzen  “Netherlands shall rise” 
Both sides weaponized flooding of Netherlands. Germans bombed dykes flooding cropland to impede Allied advances; 20,000 Dutch starved.

Picture
​Tile 4  (Men in Water)   Walcheren Moet Droog! “Walcheren must be dry!”
Walcheren was site of German coastal batteries bombed by RAF anticipating a major Allied naval landing with amphibious equipment which turned out to be a failure.

Picture
​Tile 5  (Railroad Tracks)  Verzet Voor Vaderland  “Resistance for Fatherland”
Spoorwegstaking  “Railway Strike”    Sept 1944- May 1945
Nazis kept Dutch working on railroads as option to working in mines.  After strike Germans blockaded food and fuel. Adult starvation rations dropped from 1000 to 500 calories per person.

Picture
​Tile 6   700th Anniversary of City of Delft     Oude Kerk (1246) “Old Church”  
​Contains the tombs of naval hero Maarten Tromp, painter Johannes Vermeer, scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek among many.

Picture
​Tile 7 Delft Skyline     
​Eastern Gate (c.1400) --- Nieuwe Kerk (1496) Protestant tombs of  William of Orange (William the Silent) liberator of Netherlands from Spain and the royal Dutch Family--- Oude Kerk (1246) “Old Church”

Artist who created series of Delft tiles
Henk Tieman  (Hendricus Juhannes Tieman)
B. 15 August 1921 Rotterdam Netherlands
D. 18 January 2001  Rotterdam
Studied under Oswald Wenckerbach ( Sculpture) and Frits Eschauzier (Decorative Art) at Technical University Delft
1938-1982  employed by De Porceleyne Fles  (Royal Delft Potteries)  in ‘Building Ceramics ‘
Renowned Dutch sculptor, ceramicist, artist, glass painter and creator of monumental mosaic installations. Noted for his monumental works in glass notably the 13 panel “ Flying Books” for  Delft Public Library.
His early works include designs for cloisonné tiles of the Netherlands during World War II, beginning with “The War Series” which were made once the factory was reopened after the war.

For even more detailed information and images, please see the website created by Cliff Lamere at http://clifflamere.com/FirstChurch-Art/DelftTiles-FirstChurch.htm
© 2020 The First Church in Albany.
110 North Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12207
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