What Is Majolica?

Majolica is a type of earthenware that is fired at a low temperature and decorated using a tin- or lead-based oxide glaze. Many of these heavily decorated pieces are highly collectible depending on the time of their creation.

History

The history of majolica dates back to ninth-century Baghdad, according to the Italian Majolica website. Islamic artists produced pieces of tin-glazed earthenware pottery for use in religious monuments. Traders introduced the art form to Europe through the Spanish island of Majorca, where the pottery gets its name. Italians first experimented with creating functional pieces, but majolica became an art form during the Renaissance.

Identification

Victorian majolica is a highly collectible variety of majolica, much of which was made at the Minton and Company factory in England. Although there are many shapes and styles, a large number of Minton pieces are identifiable by a British registry mark, the factory name, a date code and a symbol that provided the date and manufacture of the piece if referenced using the factory's design book. Other important majolica was created by artisans Josiah Wedgwood, Thomas Whieldon and John Astbury.

Effects

American majolica became popular toward the end of the majolica period. By 1901 majolica production had largely ceased because of the risks of lead poisoning from lead-based glazes.

References

• Majolica: The History of Majolica
• The Majolica Society: Majolica on Both Sides of the Atlantic