In the course of its two hundred years history, from c1570 to the 1770s when cream-ware came into fashion, English delfware played an increasingly important part in the everyday life of a mainly middle class clientele. By its nature bright and colourful, it was also extremely versatile, adapting itself to the practical needs of the households, and in its decoration, responding to the fashion of the time. Above all, it lent itself admirably to the demand for personalised pieces of all kinds. It is these qualities which have made it so attractive to collectors, especially in recent years. This book illustrates fifty-one examples, the majority from the important collection formed by Robert and Jean Warren but with a selection of pieces, mainly unpublished, from other benefactions, together with purchases and objects excavated in Oxford.