Questions & Answers
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What is the difference between majolica and faience?
1 Answer
The difference between majolica and faience is largely a matter of geography and style. Both terms describe types of tin-glazed earthenware inspired by maiolica, ceramics made in Italy beginning in the 15th century. Majolica is the British take on maiolica. It emerged during the mid-19th century. Made by Minton and other companies, it is often playful and whimsical. Think of a sardine jar adorned with decorative sardines or a pie dish that resembles a real pie. Faience is the French version of maiolica. Artisans began producing it in the 16th century in the city of Rouen. However, it became especially popular during the late 19th century. Unlike the creative designs common among majolica pottery, faience tends to be more formal and draws inspiration from Persian, Japanese and Chinese ceramics. Explore a collection of majolica and faience pottery on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
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Shop for Majolica Furniture on 1stDibs
19th Century Majolica Fish Heads Oyster Plate Onnaing
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
Rare 19th century Majolica fish heads oyster plate from North of France (Onnaing unsigned).
Reference: Page 130 "Collecting oysters plates" of J. Snyder.
Category
Antique 1880s French Victorian Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Fish Heads Oyster Plate Onnaing
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
Rare 19th century Majolica fish heads oyster plate from North of France (Onnaing unsigned).
Reference: Page 130 "Collecting oysters plates" of J. Snyder.
Category
Antique 1880s French Victorian Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Antique French Orchies Majolica Daisy Plate, Circa 1890
By Orchies
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique 19th-Century French majolica daisy flower plate, attributed to Orchies, circa 1890. Unmarked. This gorgeous plate has a hand painted soft pink daisy on a green leaf ...
Category
Antique 1890s French Decorative Art
Materials
Majolica
19th Century English Wedgwood Majolica Turquoise Fish Seaweed Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Pearland, TX
A rare antique English Wedgwood majolica fish seaweed plate, circa 1880. Impressed "Wedgwood" maker's mark on reverse. This lovely plate features three gray-glazed fish with pink acc...
Category
Antique 19th Century English Decorative Art
Materials
Majolica
Beautiful Italian Terracotta Lizard Statue Sculpture Vintage, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An outstanding statue of an Lizard made of glazed and hand-painted terracotta. Perfect, lifelike, and life-size representations of this loving creature, faithful, affectionate, and h...
Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Materials
Majolica, Terracotta
Pair of White Majolica Ceramic Doves, Italy 1960s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The vintage porcelain or ceramic dove figurines feature finely detailed bodies, artfully hand painted with light green accents on bright white majolica glaze, creating a reserved, natural color palette of white and tone-on-tone green.
The birds are realistically sculpted with wide, flowing tails, standing calmly with their heads slightly turned. They are not mirror images of each other; each presents subtle differences in posture, adding visual interest and another layer of complexity to the set. Highly detailed figurines convey a touch of historical elegance and whimsical charm of traditional Italian country style. Each sculpture is marked with ITALY and model numbers on the inner surfaces. While many Italian artists and studios created their version of dove figurine, most of them are stylistically different from this pair; Bitossi and Zaccagnini birds have more streamlined, Modernist silhouettes, and the doves created for Raymor were less detailed and intentionally less realistic, as well as most often marked with distributor name in writing. We're attributing the pair to Mottahedeh, who sourced Italian majolica in similar style; the pieces will be simply marked ITALY and Mottahedeh will add their paper stickers. As the sculptures are quite old, the stickers often get lost or destroyed.
The convenient size and small footprint allows the set to be used in a multiple ways, such as dining room centerpiece, console table accent, shelf or fireplace mantel decoration...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Animal Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
