Majolica Decorative Objects
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Material: Majolica
Glazed Ceramic Gurgle Fish Jug Pitcher by Vallauris, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Oversized Mid-Century Modernist glazed ceramic gurgling fish water jug / pitcher. Manufactured by Vallauris, France, 1950s
Eye-catching hand painted brown, orange and blue-green large Majolica ceramic vase, fish glug jug...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic
Majolica Fish Sealife Platter Vallauris, circa 1950
By Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica sealife platter Vallauris, circa 1950.
High relief of fish, seaweeds and shells.
Nautical style.
Measure: 9.3" diameter.
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Majolica Wall Pocket Dog Delphin Massier, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica dog wall pocket signed Delphin Massier.
Height / 7.3 inches.
The Massier are known for the quality of their unique enamels and paintings. The Massier family produced ...
Category
1890s French Victorian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Majolica Palissy Portuguese Lobster Wall Platter Plate, circa 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Portugese Caldas da Rainha Palissy lobster wall plaque plate, circa 1950s.
Decorated with mussels, shells and seaweed. Beautiful condition for thi...
Category
1950s Portuguese Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Life-Size Italian Galgo Greyhound Terracotta Dog Statue Figurine Vintage, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An outstanding Italian Greyhound statue in glazed and hand painted terracotta. Perfectly placed on a pedestal stylized as a cushion, lifelike ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Terracotta
Lisa Larson for Gustavsberg Poodle Dog Scandinavian Modern 1963
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Poodle is made of white stoneware with shiny light blue glaze and dark blue hand painted decoration. It was designed by Lisa Larson (1931-2024) as part of the "Poodles" (Pudlar) ser...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Pair of Hugo Lonitz Majolica Satyr Vases
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Pair of Hugo Lonitz Majolica vases which feature satyr masks to the side, with grape vine swags. Colouration: cobalt blue, green, cream, are predo...
Category
1880s German Victorian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
$1,976 / set
Iconic Wall Clock Junghans Uhren, Hard to Find Marmolada Design Max Bill
Located in Bochum, NRW
Important modernist glazed ceramic kitchen clock designed by Max Bill for Junghans, Germany 1956, featuring a 60-minute timer, a mechanical 8-day movement, a yellow-and-white ceramic...
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
19th Century Majolica Vase with Floral and Foliage Motifs
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
19th Century Majolica Vase with Floral and Foliage Motifs
Description:
This is a majolica vase dating from the 19th century, made in glazed ceramic with a rich and earthy brown tone...
Category
19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Exceptional Art Nouveau Barbotine Majolica Jardiniere Flowerpot Thistle Motif
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A highly decorative and vividly colored Art Nouveau Majolica jardinière or flowerpot, dating from circa 1900. This exuberant barbotine piece features an ornate relief design dominate...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Large Vallauris Blue White Ceramic Fat Lava Round Bowl / Ashtray, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
French mid-century Vallauris ashtray / bowl, Glazed Ceramic
Beautiful fat lava glazed ceramic ashtray in dark blue and soft blue hues and white accents. Manufactured by Vallauris. France, 1950s.
This cool ashtray was handcrafted in France at the Mid-20th century period. Its design in shades of blue and white fat lava ceramic on a cobalt blue background . It has four cigarrette or cigars holders.
Highly decorative piece!
This colorful piece will be the perfect gift for smokers. Also useful as jewelry bowl , decorative bowl or vide-poche.
Overall Measures: 19 cm diameter x 9 cm height (7,48 in diameter x 3,54 in height).
Vallauris Ceramic Round Bowl // Glazed Ceramic Fat Lava Bowl...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Vintage Large Italian Majolica Ceramic Sitting Cat Kitten Figurine
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Large ceramic sculpture features tabby cat or kitten, sitting with its head turned to a side. The figurine is decorated with majolica glaze with hand-painted black markings on white...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery, Majolica, Ceramic
Aldo Londi Thai Silk Vase, Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter, Blue, Green, Gold
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Mid-Century Modern vase was designed by Aldo Londi and produced by Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter. It is decorated with a band of gold flowers on Rimini blue, outlined with sgraffito ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold
$340 Sale Price
20% Off
Sarreguemines Majolica Jardiniere in the Japonisme Style, 1880-1890
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A gorgeous turquoise blue Majolica jardiniere made by the French manufactory Sarreguemines circa 1880-1890. The jardiniere is decorated in the eclectic Japonisme-style with beautifully hand-painted birds among pine branches, faux cloisonne...
Category
Late 19th Century French Japonisme Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Faience, Majolica, Pottery
Large English Victorian Hunt Scene Jardiniere Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Large English Victorian Hunt Scene Jardiniere Circa 1890.
Decorated with hound dogs with a deer.
Dogs heads handles.
19.5 by 8.5 inches.
Category
1890s English Victorian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
French Majolica White Flowers Jardinière, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica White Flowers Jardinière, circa 1880.
Category
1880s French Country Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Exceptionally Large Italian Majolica White-Glazed Parrot
Located in San Francisco, CA
the large beautifully-detailed ceramic white glazed parrot with head in profile above a well-delineated plumed body with long tail feathers; all perched upon a branch-work base with ...
Category
1950s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Pair of Majolica Morning Glory Vase Jerome Massier, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Majolica morning glory vases Jerome Massier, circa 1900.
The Massier family are known for the quality of their unique enamels and paintings. They produced an incredible whole...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Rooster Vase Choisy Le Roi by Carrier Belleuse
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica rooster vase signed Carrier Belleuse for the manufacture of Choisy le Roi, circa 1875.
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (born Albert-Ernest Carrier de Belleuse; 12 Jun...
Category
1890s French Country Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Faience, Majolica
Set of Majolica Sleeping Cat & Kitten Sculptures, Italy, Vintage
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Set of vintage ceramic sculptures features tabby cat and kitten, sleeping curled up with their heads resting on their paws. The figurines are decorated with majolica glaze with hand...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Rare French Majolica Pineapple Basket Box Sarreguemines, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Rare French Majolica Pineapple Basket Box Sarreguemines, circa 1890.
Height / 6 inches , Diameter / 3.8 inches.
Category
1920s French Country Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Antique Wilhelm Schiller Majolica Planter, 19th Century
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An antique ormolu-mounted Majolica twin handled planter or centre piece attributed to Wilhelm Schiller. The Majolica planter is of wide rounded form with a raised ornate rim and with...
Category
1880s Austrian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ormolu
Brown Westhead Moore Majolica Owl Figure
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Brown Westhead Moore & Co majolica figural which features an owl perched on a branch. The owl with original glass eyes. Coloration: brown, cream, ...
Category
1870s English Victorian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Very Rare Villeroy Boch / Mettlach Jardiniere on Flower Columns, 1890
Located in Handewitt, DE
Pair of very rare Villeroy Boch / Mettlach jardiniere on flower columns circa .1890. Richly decorated with ornaments, heads and colors. Very good quality...
Category
19th Century German Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
$12,270 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Majolica Fish Sealife Platter Vallauris, circa 1950
By Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica sealife platter Vallauris, circa 1950.
High relief of 2 fishs, seaweeds, lemon, starfish, shells, crab, oyster.
Nautical style.
Measure: 9.3 diameter.
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Boxer Dog Life-Size Majolica Statue Sculpture, Glazed Ceramic, Italy, 1970s
Located in Vienna, AT
An eye-catching and ornamental vintage life-size figurine of a boxer dog, standing 34 inches tall. This handcrafted and hand-painted statue, made from glazed ceramic/pottery, was pro...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Pair of Majolica Flowers & Leaves Cache Pots Luneville Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Majolica Flowers & Leaves signed Luneville Cache Pots Circa 1890,
H / 7 inches , D / 9 inches by 7 inches.
Category
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Jasba Vase, West German Pottery 1950s-1960s
By Jasba
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Mid Century Modern ceramic vase features an abstract motif in Burgundy red glaze, sponged on in free-flowing patterns and outlined with gold, on light green background. The decor ap...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Vintage Petite Italian Majolica Lemons & Oranges Topiary Basket
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely petite Mid Century Italian majolica lemons and oranges topiary. Marked "Italy" on reverse. Brighten up your kitchen or dining room with this beautiful hand painted arrangeme...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Antique Majolica Jardinière by Gustave de Bruyn Fives Lille Cherubs Lions Cobalt
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This Majolica jardinière is richly decorated, featuring a deep cobalt blue glaze as the base color. The sides are adorned with cherubs and lion heads in golden and brown tones, refle...
Category
Early 1900s French Renaissance Revival Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
French Majolica Rooster Tureen Caugant
Located in Austin, TX
French country majolica rooster tureen, circa 1950 signed Caugant.
Category
1950s French Country Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Vallauris Unglazed Fat Lava Ceramic Flower Shaped Bowl / Ashtray, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
French Mid-Century Vallauris ashtray / bowl in unglazed fat lava ceramic.
Beautiful fat lava ceramic flower shaped bowl in white and brown ceramic with turquoise green, orange and ye...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Monkey Pianist Humidor Tobacco Jar Sarreguemines
Located in Austin, TX
Amusing Majolica monkey pianist tobacco jar Sarreguemines, circa 1880.Rarely found complete with his lid ,he wear a costume of Oriental style, he play piano and two books are represe...
Category
1880s French Rococo Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Art Nouveau Handmade and Hand Glazed Planter Jardinière, Stamp: Wessel 958
By Wessel & Muller
Located in Verviers, BE
Brilliant Handmade Majolica Hand-glazed
Art Nouveau planter jardinière, 1920.
Stamp Imperiale Royale, WESSEL
Handmade and hand-glazed in brilliant details.
Made in Germany
Art Nouv...
Category
1920s German Art Nouveau Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Majolica White Swan Jardinière Jerome Massier, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Small Majolica white swan jardinière signed Jerome Massier Vallauris, circa 1890.
Category
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic
Pair of Vallauris Glazed Ceramic Majolica Gurgle Fish Jug Pitchers, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Unmatching pair of Modernist glazed ceramic gurgling fish water jugs / pitchers by Vallauris, France, 1950s-1960s
Eye-catching hand painted fat lava gurgle fish vases...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic
Vallauris Ceramic Orange Amber Brown Fat Lava Round Astray / Bowl, 1950s
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
French mid-century Vallauris ashtray / bowl in glazed ceramic.
Beautiful fat lava glazed ceramic ashtray in orange, amber, white and brown colors. Manufactured by Vallauris. France, ...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Monumental Majolica Shell Jardiniere Circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning monumental Majolica pink clamshell jardiniere, circa 1880.
This yellow and brown footed shell is decorated with coral,seaweeds and yellow...
Category
1880s French Aesthetic Movement Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Glazed Ceramic Lemons Pitcher / Jug, Spain, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching realistic Majolica lemons jug / pitcher in multicolor glazed ceramic, Spain, 1950s-1960s.
Hand-painted Manises ceramic decorative jug in the sh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
$1,247 Sale Price
20% Off
Live Size Italian Dachshund Terracotta Dog Statue Figurine Vintage, 1960s
By Marioni
Located in Nuernberg, DE
An outstanding statue of an Italian dachshund made of glazed and hand-painted terracotta. Perfect, lifelike, and life-size representations of this loving creature, faithful, affectio...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Terracotta
French Majolica Brown Hen Tureen Caugant
Located in Austin, TX
Rustic French Majolica Brown Hen Tureen circa 1950 signed Caugant.
Category
1950s French Country Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Antique Majolica Adams & Bromley Pineapple Basketweave Sardine Fish Box 6"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Majolica Sardine fish box / lidded compote attributed to Adams & Bromley. It features a pineapple and basket weave design with Sardine lid handle and purple lavender interio...
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
$296 Sale Price
20% Off
Cheetah Cub Figurine in Majolica Pottery by Ronzan Italy, 1950's
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
Very nice expressive Ronzan Italian majolica cheetah cub figurine.
Signed to the base in black script: RONZAN MADE IN ITALY 1571/A.
Dating from arou...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Pottery
Large Midcentury Majolica Red Fish Pottery Ceramic Tureen Box, Portugal, 1950s
Located in Coimbra, PT
A magnificent big size hyper realistic glazed ceramic fish tureen in shades of vibrant red and grey with dark accents manufactured in Portugal, 1950s. Beautiful to use as a wall deco...
Category
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica, Pottery
Flower Vase, Early Art Deco, Blue Yellow Run Glaze, Ceramic, ~ 1915, France
Located in Wien, AT
Very decorative vase from the early art deco period, made in France.
This object has a shape that looks like the ancient Greek amphorae, but has a four-pass stand to ensure stabili...
Category
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Art Nouveau Faience Handled Vase with Drip Glaze, Belgium
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Striking large ceramic vase features the organic, rounded shape with 3 curved, free-flowing decorative handles. It is decorated in characteristic Belgian Art Nouveau style with the u...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica, Pottery
Italian Majolica Painted Parrot
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautifully detailed sculpted pottery Macaw bird, perched on a branch with flowers. Made in Italy from majolica glazed pottery.
Please confirm location NY ...
Category
20th Century Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Pair of Turn of the Century Italian Majolica Harlequins
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of turn of the century Italian Majolica porcelain male and female
harlequin figures each wearing a top hat, striped pants and a red shirt.
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Italian Majolica Incised and Painted Ewer Fish Motif
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A truly whimsical and wonderful piece of Italian Majolica that is incredibly well crafted. It is incised and appears almost enameled. It is signed or inscribed by the artist on the b...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
$960 Sale Price
20% Off
18th Century Italian Blue & White Faience Albarelli Apothecary Jar Pair
Located in Forney, TX
A remarkable pair of two antique European tin-glazed earthenware apothecary jars. circa 1770
Originally used as medicinal pottery jars that held ointments and dry drugs at apothecar...
Category
18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware, Faience, Majolica, Pottery
C.1890 Majolica Rooster Vase Choisy Le Roi by Carrier Belleuse
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica rooster vase signed Carrier Belleuse for the manufacture of Choisy le Roi, circa 1875.
Very rare colors.
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (born Albert-Ernest Carrier de Belleuse; 12 June 1824 – 4 June 1887) was a French sculptor. He was one of the founding members of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, and was made an officer of the Legion of Honour.
At the end of 19th century, Choisy le roi was one of the most important ceramics...
Category
1890s French Country Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Faience, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Rooster Vase Delphin Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Antique Majolica rooster with leaves, corn and wild rose vase signed Delphin Massier, circa 1890.
The Massier produced roosters in a big range of sizes, this is the medium size. The...
Category
1890s French Rustic Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
Late 17th-Early 18th Century Italian Majolica Bowl
Located in Hudson, NY
This good sized bowl is a great example of the majolica wares produced in Italy throughout the 15th, 16th, 17, and 18th centuries. Humble and simple but highly decorative and enterta...
Category
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Rare Majolica Orchid Jardiniere Delphin Massier, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Majolica Orchid Jardiniere attributed to Delphin Massier, circa 1890.
Measures: W / 17 inches , H / 8.3 inches.
The Massier family are known f...
Category
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Superb English Bulldog Terracotta Dog Statue Figurine Vintage, Italy 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Add a touch of charm to your home with this exquisite ceramic Terracotta English Bulldog sculpture. This piece captures the playful spirit of the beloved breed with intricate detaili...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica, Terracotta
Ceramic Hand-Painted Candlestick Candle Holder by DeSimone, Italy
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This vintage figural candlestick by Giovanni Desimone Italy is a unique and eye-catching piece of decorative art. DeSimone was a renowned Italian ceramicist and designer who worked in the mid-20th century, known for his whimsical and colorful ceramic sculptures...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
$133 Sale Price
20% Off
French Vallauris Majolica Emerald Green Reticulated Centerpiece Bowl, Circa 1940
By Vallauris
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous vintage majolica glazed green reticulated basketweave bowl from Vallauris in the French Riviera region of France, circa 1940. Maker's mark on interior. Vallauris is consid...
Category
1940s French Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Bauhaus Era Ceramic Bonsai Planter by Eva Zeisel Schramberg Art Deco Avantgarde
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This exceptional Bauhaus era ceramic bonsai planter or cachepot was designed by the renowned designer Eva Zeisel and produced by the Schramberger Majolika Manufaktur (SMF) in Germany...
Category
1920s German Art Deco Vintage Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Spanish Bull Shaped Glazed Ceramic Pitcher
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching ceramic bull jug / pitcher, Spain, 1960s.
Spanish ceramic bull shaped jug with romanesque inspired decorative details in green, white and brown-black.
This kind of tradi...
Category
20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
French Art Nouveau Majolica Floral Dresser Mantel Clock and Garniture Set
By Sarreguemines, Esdeve
Located in Miami Beach, FL
The beautiful set by Esdeve - Sarreguemines features a lovely pink French Majolica dresser mantel clock and a matching pair of pink floral garniture vases. It features an Art Nouveau...
Category
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Decorative Objects
Materials
Majolica
Antique and Vintage Majolica Vases, Bowls, Candleholders and Other Decorative Objects
The popularity of Victorian majolica, the gaily colored, metallic-oxide-glazed earthenware, has ebbed and flowed for more than a century. Right now, antique and vintage vases, bowls and other decorative objects appear to be having a moment — again.
Starting in the 1850s, people in the U.S. and the U.K. embraced these affordable housewares with unusual polychrome palettes (turquoise and pink) and whimsical forms (candlesticks shaped like dolphins). By the 1870s, majolica was being mass-produced for an ever-expanding middle class in countries like England, France, Sweden, Hungary and Portugal. Majolica was Art for Everyman. Its popularity coincided with interest in exotic Japonisme and scientific studies by the likes of Carl Linnaeus, Charles Darwin and John James Audobon.
Despite a similarity in name, Victorian majolica is significantly different in subject matter and form from its Italian forebear, Renaissance maiolica. That earlier earthenware bore gaily painted religious and mythological scenes, and unlike majolica, with its lively contours, was not molded or three dimensional.
What was the attraction of majolica for the 19th-century collector? “Imagine what it looked like in a Victorian interior, with dark woods, heavy drapes and upholstered chairs and sofas,” says Susan Weber, founder of the Bard Graduate Center in New York. “Majolica is robust and extremely tactile. With its naturalistic shapes, colorful glazes and often humorous themes, it appealed to the growing consumer society.”
In England, manufacturers like Minton began to produce decorative, relief-molded majolica tiles for the interiors of taverns, train stations, even the famous Queen’s Dairy at Frogmore, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. In 19th-century France, Sèvres and smaller ceramics firms began to reinterpret the snake-decorated platters made by Bernard Palissy, a 16th-century self-taught French potter. The result was a type of majolica called Palissy ware, which, like the originals, was festooned with odd creatures (lobsters, lizards and snakes) modeled by hand.
The late Moroccan-born, Paris-based decorator Alberto Pinto often placed Palissy ware in his clients’ living rooms, posing individual pieces on brackets against a background of stamped, gilded leather. Pinto, in turn, influenced such contemporary decorators as Harry Heissmann of New York. After 1900, people got swept up in the romanticism of Art Nouveau and ceased buying majolica. The 1970s saw a revival of interest, and in 1982, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, in New York, organized “English Majolica,” an exhibition featuring 75 examples from Minton, Wedgwood and George Jones, among other makers.
On 1stDibs, find antique and vintage majolica tea sets, vases, candlesticks, tureens and other furniture and decorative objects.
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French Ceramic Frog
Frieze Roman
Gilt Bronze Elephant
Ginger Jars With 2 Lids
Glazed Terracotta Dog
Gold Chicken
Hollow Log
Horse Head Marble Sculpture
Horse Sculpture Spain
Horsehair Brush
Ironwood Sculpture
Italian Canister
Italian Whippets
Japanese Imari Jars
Jere Owl
Large Bronze Elephant
Large Bronze Horse Sculpture
Large Wood Elephant