Majolica Furniture
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Material: Majolica
George Jones Majolica Bulrush and Lily Jug/Pitcher
By George Jones
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
George Jones Majolica jug/pitcher which features green leaves, bulrushes/cattails and water lilies. Brown ground version. Colouration: brown, green, pink, are predominant. Bears a pa...
Category
1870s Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Minton Majolica Mallard Game Pie Dish and Cover
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica game pie dish which features a hare, mallard and blackbird on a bed of fern and oak leaves. Colouration: brown, green, turquoise...
Category
1860s English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century English Majolica Oyster Plate Signed Minton
By Minton
Located in Winter Park, FL
A good English Majolica plate, dated 1885 and marked Minton, with turquoise and cobalt blue oyster plate with a central well surrounded by small ochre flowers. Six small and one larg...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Pair Antique French Majolica Figural Bird Umbrella Stands, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Antique French Majolica Figural Bird Umbrella Stands, Circa 1890.
Egret and Pelican in the Marshes
Attributed to Clément Massier, renowned ceramist who came from a long family h...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century Majolica Grapevine Plates, a Pair
Located in Winter Park, FL
A pair of 19th century French Majolica glazed ceramic plates with grapevine pattern in green, brown and gold rim. Mottled color on reverse side. Circa 1890-1899.
9.5" Diameter x 1"H...
Category
19th Century French Beaux Arts Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Pair of Vintage Victorian Style Reticulated Gilded Majolica Urn Table Lamps
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Large gilded majolica table lamps feature elaborate Victorian style design with urn or teapot shaped bodies mounted on square bases. The top of the urn shaped part is decorated with...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Gold
Charger Plate Set Six Dinner Plates Table Serveware Majolica Aquamarine Painted
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
This colorful and elegant set of 6 majolica charger plates is handmade and hand-painted in Italy following the original Renaissance painting technique, unchanged over time, which we observe to the letter: every artist's brushstroke, which you can see on each plate, contributes to make our plates look bold and unique.
The plates feature fluttering ribbons that frame recently blossomed flowers, representing the triumph of life and youth. A stylish set of charger plates...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
Vintage Italian Majolica Porcelain Pig-Form Soup Tureen with Lid and Ladle
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a dining table with this cheerful Majolica centerpiece. Crafted in Italy circa 1980, the decorative tureen is shaped as a pig resting, his mouth opened holding a lemon. The removable lid, embellished with leaf and lemon decor...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Porcelain
Wilhelm Schiller Majolica Owl Figural Lamp
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Schiller Majolica lamp base and burner which features an owl perched on a branch above rocks and foliage. The owl has original glass eyes. Colouration: brown, green, grey, are predom...
Category
1880s Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Large Pair of 19th Century Italian Glazed-Majolica Framed Plaques
Located in San Francisco, CA
Each well-executed plaque of impressive scale depicting a moody forest scene and a tranquil lake setting; all within custom ebonized moulded frames with giltwood slips; excellent ant...
Category
1890s Italian Belle Époque Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
$4,720 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Vintage Petite Italian Majolica Fruit Basket
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely miniature Mid-Century Italian majolica basket of lemons, apples, and peaches accented by green leaves and flowers in a white basket. Maker's mark on reverse. Freshen up your...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Minton Majolica Two Handled Vase on Pedestal
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica vase which features grapes and vine leaves, two lion head handles and a (fixed) pedestal base. Colouration: turquoise, pink, ochre...
Category
1870s English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Minton Majolica Hogarth Boy Figure
By Minton
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Minton Majolica figure which features a Hogarth boy, sat on a rock, holding a shell. Coloration: turquoise, green, brown, are predominant. The piece bears maker's marks for the Minto...
Category
1870s English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
George Jones Majolica Partridge Game Pie Dish and Cover
By George Jones
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
George Jones Majolica game pie dish which features a partridge on the cover with barley and stiff leaf decoration to the dish. Rare...
Category
1870s English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Centerpiece Bowl Riser Decorated Ornament Handles Majolica Blue White Vessel
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
The lavish majolica centerpiece, in the shape of a krater, recalls the ancient structure of the Greek cup that was used to mix water and wine: this beautiful...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Vase Vessel Ceramic Centerpiece Ornament Aquamarine Majolica Flower Holder Italy
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
Large majolic vase in green aquamarine color, glazed in polychrome, characterized by the elegant presence of naturalistic ornamental motifs that enhance its forms beautifully. Its po...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
19th Century English Majolica Fans Dish
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century English Majolica Fan Shape Dish.
Category
1880s British Aesthetic Movement Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
$180 / item
English Majolica Boat Tureen with Fish Cover
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Unidentified English Majolica fish server which features a long boat with a winged beast at its figurehead as the base. The lid in the form of a planked deck topped by a large fish. ...
Category
1870s English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Victorian Antique Majolica Jardinière of the Four Seasons by Minton
By Minton
Located in London, GB
Victorian antique Majolica jardinière of the Four Seasons by Minton
English, c. 1905
Measures: Height 39cm, diameter 32cm
This charact...
Category
Early 1900s English Renaissance Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Large Decorative Plate Majolica Wall Dish, Centerpiece Hand Painted Italy Deruta
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
Our ceramic plate "Mediterranean Nuances" is handmade and hand-painted in Italy: realized in majolica painted in polychrome, it is characterized by elegant decorative motifs of the Deruta tradition colored with different variations of blue and brown tones following the original Renaissance painting technique. The particular shape of this dish is traditionally called "a priest's hat". This majolica can be exposed as an centerpiece or it can be used as a fancy wall dish...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
French 19th Century Majolica Asparagus Serving Tray with Oval Foliage Plate
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Majolica asparagus serving tray from the 19th century, with green leafy plate. Created in France during the 19th century, this Majolica tray features a curving cradle adorne...
Category
19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
French asparagus plates, set of 4, St Clément, Aesthetic Movement, 19th century
Located in Paris, FR
Discover a stunning piece of Aesthetic Movement French faïence: an asparagus plate by Keller & Guérin, St. Clément, circa 1890–1900, in the Art Nouveau style. This exquisite plate fe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica
Plate Centerpiece Bowl Tray Decorated Ornament Majolica Blue White Deruta Italy
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
This splendid ceramic plate is handmade and hand-painted in Italy following the original Renaissance painting technique, unchanged over time, which we observe to the letter: it is de...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Large Ceramic Plate Hand Painted Majolica Italy Contemporary Unique 21st century
Located in London, GB
"Orvieto", large plate, 2017, full-fire reduction faience earthenware 52 cm diameter, hand painted unique piece.
Perfect décor for the wall or simply placed at the centre of a table...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Leaves and Pink Flowers Plate Choisy Le Roi
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning colors for this Majolica plate signed Choisy le roi, circa 1890.
Decorated with leaves, ferns, pink flowers and Greek border.
Category
1890s French Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Palissy Style Majolica Ewer with Cover and Stand by Mafra
Located in London, GB
Portuguese Majolica ewer in the manner of Palissy
Portuguese, c. 1865-87
Measures: Height 37cm, diameter 26cm
This beautiful green ewer and bowl set...
Category
Late 19th Century Portuguese Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Hand Painted Ceramic Vase by Bottega Vignoli Italy Contemporary Majolica
Located in London, GB
Palmette Vase 2024, hand-painted majolica, fired in full fire-reduction
Dimensions: 28 cm diameter x 36 cm height
Unique piece
Bottega Vignoli is a brand of artistic ceramics bas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica
Gaetano BATTAGLIA (Naples-Italy-Active 1850 and 1885) Large Circular Plate
Located in Madrid, ES
Gaetano BATTAGLIA (Naples-Italy-Active between 1850 and 1885)
Large circular earthenware plate
in the style of Italian majolica with polychrome historiated decoration on the basin, t...
Category
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
1880 Gien French Faience Pair Majolica Gold Chocolate Vases with Armored Knights
By Gien
Located in New York, NY
A very rare signed pair of Faience vases produced by the prestigious French Gien factory, with a unique enameling technique called "Emaux chagrin" = painful enamels, because of the difficulty and time-consuming craftsmanship. The background consists of hand-applied enamel, a mixture of real gold, and chocolate brown colored clay. Then these museum pieces are hand decorated on both sides with gold leaf: antiquity decor with detailed armored knights...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Gold
Brownfield Majolica Chestnut Cheese Dome & Stand
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Brownfield Majolica cheese keep which features a chestnut, flower and leaves. Colouration: brown, green, pink, are predominant. The piece bears mak...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Pompei Moon Jar Hand Painted Ceramic Italy Contemporary 21st Century Majoilica
Located in London, GB
Pompei moon jar, 2024, full-fire reduction faience earthenware (majolica) 30 cm diameter, hand painted unique piece.
Bottega Vignoli is a brand of artistic ceramics based in Faenza, one of the most representative ceramic production centres in Italy. Founded in 1976 by sisters Saura and Ivana, Bottega Vignoli stands out for its limited production, accurate details and skilful experimentation resulting in stunning unique and one of a kind pieces. Their style is immediately recognizable and expressly follows the path...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica
Ugo Zaccagnini: monumental Italian dragon ceramic/majolica table lamp
Located in Zemst, BE
Monumental table lamp by the Italian Pottery
Ugo Zaccagnini, Florence
Blue glazed with an incrusted gold painted decor of a dragon
Marked with the decor number on the bottom and s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Chinoiserie Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Copeland Majolica Renaissance Style Ewer And Stand
By Copeland
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Copeland Majolica ewer and stand which features a winged maiden to front, birds, snakes, foliage and grape vine fruits decorate sides and handles. Colouration: brown, green, cobalt b...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Majolica Vase Snake Two-handled Amphora Orange Blue Hand Painted Italian Ceramic
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
Amphora in majolica handmade in Italy and hand-painted in polychrome, decorated with a reinterpretation of the patterns used in Deruta during the Fifteenth Century, following the ori...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Vintage Caldas da Rainha Portuguese Cabbage Tureen with Lid, signed F. Mendes
Located in Birmingham, AL
A delightful vintage Portuguese majolica tureen with lid, handcrafted in the 1950s by F. Mendes in Caldas da Rainha, the historic heart of Portuguese pottery. This charming tureen, s...
Category
Mid-19th Century Portuguese Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Spanish Manises Pink Majolica Ceramic Artichoke Table Lamp
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful Manises pink glazed ceramic artichoke motif table lamp, Spain, 1960s
This eye-catching lamp features an artichoke figure at the central part. It has a ceramic footed base ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Hand-Painted Floral Barbotine Vase Signed P. Perret
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a shelf of a console with this elegant colorful majolica vase. Sculpted in Vallauris, France, circa 1890, and signed by the artist Pierre Perret, the ceramic vessel has an u...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Rubin Red Plate Gold Luster Glided Hand Painted Majolica Centerpiece Bowl Deruta
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
The dish, made of majolica painted in duotone of blue and red, features dense decoration, inspired by the Moorish style, throughout its surface. The outer band of the brim is richly ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Moorish Majolica Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate
1970s Italian Multicolored Glazed Ceramic Shell Centerpiece with Coral and Crabs
By Falco Marino
Located in Firenze, IT
There is all the Italian artisan mastery in this exceptional Mid-Century Modern open worked large Majolica ornament centerpiece in the form of a long shell enriched with crab, seahorse and red coral perfectly shaped inside it. Looking at this sculpture you will feel the sound of the ocean.
Every part of this colorful and powerful handmade marine themed composition is incredibly realistic and well made. The open shell depicted in a palette made of browns, pink, yellow and green contains a big red coral...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
1920s French Sarreguemines Red Majolica Bronze Ormolu Jardiniere Bowl
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a gorgeous majolica jardiniere or centerpiece bowl by Sarreguemines France, circa the 1920s. The Sarreguemines pottery was founded around 1784 by brother...
Category
1920s Neoclassical Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Charger Plate Set Six Dinner Plates Serveware Tableware Majolica Painted Italy
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
Set of six majolica charger plates is handmade and hand-painted in Italy following the original Renaissance painting technique, unchanged over time, which we observe to the letter.
The elegant decoration is composed of a halo of blue foliage that resembles four groups of wings: from the center of the plate, further ornamental elements develop, projected outwards, which give movement to the entire compositional structure. The beauty of these majolica plates is underlined by the artist's visible brushstrokes that give them a unique style.
Further possibility to order a set of 4 or 12 charger...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Asparagus Plate by Orchies Faience Manufactory, 19th century
By Orchies
Located in Paris, FR
This asparagus plate in faience is a true collector's item, exemplifying the artisanal expertise of the Orchies manufactory. The basin is beautifully adorned with raised asparagus de...
Category
19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Minton Pigeon Pie Tureen
By Minton
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Minton Majolica pigeon pie tureen with wickerwork design. Supported by three realistically modelled grey fantailed pigeons roosting...
Category
19th Century English Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
$10,750
Majolica Garden Figure Figure of a boy with a fish as a figure or for a fountain
Located in München, Bavaria
This hand-crafted and hand painted majolica figure of a boy with a fish is made in the studios of the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory in Munich, Germany. They create handmade figur...
Category
2010s German Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century Majolica Begonia Leaf Wilhelm Schiller & Son Vide-Poche
Located in Austin, TX
Small 19th Century Majolica Begonia Leaf signed Wilhelm Schiller & Son Vide-Poche.
High quality.
6.3 by 3.6 inches.
Wilhelm Schiller began production of porcelain and earthenware in ...
Category
1880s Czech Rustic Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Vase Vessel Majolica Damask Renaissance Black Yellow Hand Painted Italy Deruta
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
Majolica vase with a black background decorated in golden yellow. the vase is formed by a very slender body and a flared neck ending with a rather everted edge: it is handmade and ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Majolica
Majolica Asparagus Plate Clairefontaine, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica asparagus plate signed Clairefontaine, circa 1880.
Diameter / 9.5 inches.
Category
1880s French Country Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
French Majolica Asparagus Plate Sarreguemines circa 1890, set of 4
Located in ASNIÈRES-SUR-SEINE, FR
These very rare Sarreguemines plates will be incredible on any table.
They are referenced in “Artichauts et Asperges en Barbotine” by Maryse Bottero.
Please note one plate has a more...
Category
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Asparagus Platter Salins
By Salins
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Majolica Asparagus handled platter Salins, in a shape of basket Trompe l'oeil.
Category
1880s French Country Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
French Neo-Renaissance Majolica Plate circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Neo-Renaissance Majolica Plate circa 1890.
Decorated with a cavalier on the center, border with medallion portraits.
Category
1890s French Renaissance Revival Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
19th Century French Painted Ceramic Barbotine Jardinière with Floral Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant colorful hand painted Majolica planter was sculpted in Montigny sur Loing, France, circa 1860. The ceramic jardinière with root shape handles features high relief soft pink, blue and beige rose flowers with pale green leaves, and brown and grey background. The ceramic vase is in good condition commensurate with age and use (minor chips on few petals).
Impressionist ceramics term generally applies to "paint the slip" or "batch gouache". At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the towns of Montigny-sur-Loing and Marlotte are many artists living places like Jean-Baptiste Corot, Eugène Thirion (1839-1910), Adrien Schulz (1851-1931), Numa Gillet (1868-1940) and Lucien Cahen-Michel (1888-1980), all attracted by the quality of the landscape and the light. When Eugene Schopin founded in 1872 a ceramics factory, he worked with the painters to create a range of designs inspired by Impressionism and decorated according to new public demands. Several ceramic factories will develop around this Impressionist movement. The most famous, such as Georges Delvaux (1834-1909), Albert Boué (1862-1918) and Charles Alphonse Petit (1862-1927), will produce until 1922. Other manufacturers, such as Theodore Lefront...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Clement MASSIER (1857-1945) Majolica flower vase/column vase, France
Located in Berlin, DE
Clement MASSIER (1857-1945) Majolica flower vase/column vase, France
Very decorative and of high quality. Marked: Clement Massier
Unique running glaze. A guaranteed eye-catcher.
A...
Category
20th Century French Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century Majolica Jardinière by Minton and Carlo Marochetti
By Minton
Located in London, GB
This exquisite jardinière was manufactured by the celebrated English company Minton, who are famous for their ceramics. It was designed by Baron Carlo Marochetti (1805-1867), an Italian-born sculptor who worked in London in the latter part of his career. His most famous work is the bronze sculpture of Richard the Lionheart...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century French Hand Painted Ceramic Barbotine Pig Pitcher by Onnaing
By Onnaing
Located in Dallas, TX
Colorful antique water pitcher from Northern France, crafted, circa 1880, the pitcher, called "Maitre d'Hotel" (or butler), features a pig dressed as a waiter and seated on a chair. ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Hand Painted Blue Ceramic Vase by Bottega Vignoli Italy Contemporary Majolica
Located in London, GB
Cassettoni Vase 2024, hand-painted majolica, fired in full fire-reduction
Dimensions: 28 cm diameter x 36 cm height
Unique piece
Bottega Vignoli is a brand of artistic ceramics b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Classical Roman Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Earthenware
Majolica Asparagus Plate Clairefontaine, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica asparagus plate signed Clairefontaine, circa 1880.
Diameter / 9.5 inches.
Category
1880s French Country Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
1900s French Barbotine Majolica Mourning Flowers, Rose Violet Peony Carnation
Located in Haarlem, NL
Set of twenty four hand made and hand painted barbotine majolica ceramic early 1900s so called mourning flowers.
In this set you find:
Roses, violets,...
Category
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Art Nouveau Majolica Weller Art Pottery Planter or Jardiniere, a Compatible Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
Art Nouveau Majolica Weller Art Pottery Planter or Jardiniere, a Compatible Pair :
This elegant pair of Art Nouveau majolica pottery planters, attributed to Weller Art Pottery, sho...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Pottery
19th Century French Painted Faience Rooster with Vase Signed Paul Comolera
Located in Dallas, TX
Add the charm of the French countryside to your home with this large, colorful and rare ceramic rooster sculpture. Crafted in France circa 1880, the Majolica composition is at once a...
Category
Late 19th Century French Country Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Faience, Majolica
Antique English Majolica Figural Basket Planter or Jardiniere with Vine Decor
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique planter is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England and date to approximately 1890 and done in the period Late Victorian style. The planter is composed of Majolica and done in a figural basket shape with and brown ground with cream accents to the rim and base and green vines...
Category
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Antique and Vintage Majolica Platters, Pottery and Other Furniture and Decor
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 majolica plates, pitchers, decorative objects and other pieces 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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