Italian Decorative Plates

During the Renaissance in Italy, potters discovered that using a white tin-based glaze rather than a transparent lead glaze and white surface worked much better in the firing process for painted decorated plates. The tin glaze was then decorated with different pigment colors. This type of pottery has several names, such as majolica, maiolica, tin-glazed pottery and delftware.

Derivation

The idea of decorating with a tin glaze originally came from Chinese porcelain. It then spread to Persia and into Spain. The Spanish began bringing the tin-glazed pottery into Italy during the 11th and 12th centuries. Then the Italian artists changed the technique and named it majolica after Majorca, Spain.

Celebration Majolica

The the first Italian maiolica pieces were used primarily for utilitarian purposes and had abstract or geometric designs. Italian majolica centers during the Renaissance produced very elaborately decorated plates and bowls for a variety of different markets. The artists made total sets, as well as specially designed pieces for display only. The maiolica was often made for celebrations and yearly occasions such as weddings or births. Soon, Italian majolica spread throughout Europe.

Luca Della Robbia

At the end of the 15th century, very large plates, called pompous plates, were painted in order to honor a famous person or a special achievement. Human portraits were also popular and dedicated to a loved one. The artist Luca Della Robbia helped to make majolica as respected as other pieces of art. He started as a marble sculptor, but it took so long to carve the marble that Luca began working with clay. His white glazes are finer than most polished marble surfaces.

Dining Manners

In the 16th century, services of majolica tableware were being commissioned by aristocratic families who wished to impress their visitors with plates painted with the family coat of arms. This brought about an entirely new way of eating. Previously, people would take their meals from large communal bowls. The plates changed dining manners, as well as ushered in better hygiene.

Reproductions

At the end of the 1800s, Renaissance artwork became very collectible, and private antique dealers and museums began collecting whatever original pieces they could find from this period of time. It was not long before potters were creating perfect copies that could not be told from the originals.