Majolica Furniture
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Material: Majolica
19th Century Majolica Asparagus Plate
By Salins
Located in Paris, FR
This 19th century Majolica asparagus hand painted plate was made in France. This Majolica dish is in the style of the Salins-les-Bains Craft.
Category
19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
$142 / item
19th Century French Thomas Sergent Hand Painted Faience Barbotine Ewer
Located in Dallas, TX
Add this elegant antique Majolica ewer to your faience collection. Crafted in France, circa 1870, and attributed to the French artist Thomas Sergent, the tall "Aiguiere" dressed wit...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Faience, Majolica
Period 1820s Irish Card / Tea Tables Solid Mahogany with Later Carvings
Located in Manhasset, NY
Period pair of Irish card or tea tables solid mahogany with later carvings. These wonderfully carved card tables have cabriole legs and ball and claw feet. Each having a center drawe...
Category
Early 19th Century Northern Irish Georgian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Mahogany
Tureen asparagus dish, in style of luneville
Located in Paris, FR
Discover this rare 19th-century polychrome earthenware set, featuring a covered asparagus server with a matching platter. This French Barbotine asparagus server is a true collector's...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica
English majolica ceramic greenware dessert plate, c. 1820
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Majolica greenware dessert plate with impressed narcissus pattern decoration.
England, circa 1820.
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Art Nouveau Majolica and Loetz Art Glass Shade Oil Lamp Adjustable Pendant Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare, large and beautiful antique Art Nouveau oil lamp with blackened iron frame in floral decor.
This large and impressive oil lamp dates from the earliest years of the 1900s. It i...
Category
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Majolica Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
French Art Nouveau Majolica Asparagus Plates Saint Clément, 1920s
Located in ASNIÈRES-SUR-SEINE, FR
Superb French Asparagus Art Nouveau plates.
Colors are vibrant, and the three asparagus spears have puple tips. Saint Clément's mark stamped at the underside. Circa 1920.
Category
1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Mid-19th Century French Hand Painted Ceramic Barbotine Cache Pot with Bird Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a tabletop with this colorful, antique Majolica planter. Sculpted in France circa 1860, the ceramic vase stands on three bracket feet over a round and bombe body topped with...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
French Majolica Leaves Plate Clairefontaine, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica leaves plate signed Clairefontaine, circa 1890.
Category
1890s French Rustic Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Majolica Ceramic Cabbage with Crab Tureen Centerpiece, Italy 1950
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-20th Century Italian Basket Tureen with Cabbage and Crab Lid
___________________________________________________________________________
Eye-catching hand painted glazed ceramic ...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
Matt White Glaze Majolica Sculpture with Hand Sculpted Peony, Italy 21st Century
Located in London, GB
Small ceramic sculptures with peony by Antonietta Mazzotti Emaldi, 2018, Glazed earthenware (majolica) and 24ct gold, entirely handmade, unique piece. Customisation available in terms of colour of both for base and flower.
Antonietta Mazzotti (Faenza, Italy 1950) attended the Istituto d’Arte per la Ceramica in Faenza and opened her first workshop in her hometown taking part in group and solo exhibitions at international level. In 1976 she has transformed the neo-gothic greenhouse of Villa Emaldi in her workshop. Antonietta Mazzotti has worked for some of the most important international museums and has received several important recognitions worldwide. Her works have been featured in major Italian magazines of interior design and she has acquired international visibility being featured in major international press publications, such as The New York Times. She still lives and works at Villa Emaldi in Faenza where she continues her research on historical decor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Earthenware, Majolica
19th Century French Hand Painted Barbotine Faience Vase with Bird Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
The colorful antique majolica vase was created in France circa 1890. Round in shape, the decorative ceramic vase features intricate details, including painted flowers and three birds...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Faience, Majolica
Violin In Majolica Manufacture Rouen Early 1800s French Musical Ceramics
By Rouen
Located in Milano, MI
French Faience Violin Manufacture of Rouen Beginning 1800 with a side pocket and two holes for hanging on the wall by means of a string, missing. This stanniferous glaze majolica vi...
Category
Early 19th Century Baroque Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Majolica Asparagus Serving Set by Elchinger, France, 7 Pieces
By Elchinger
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A charming French Majolica asparagus serving set by Elchinger, featuring a rich green glaze with raised asparagus motifs. This Barbotine ceramic set includes one large serving platter and six matching plates. The intricate relief detailing and vibrant colors make it a perfect addition to any Majolica collection or a stylish choice for serving asparagus and other delicacies.
Platter dimensions: approx. 39 x 24 x 3 cm (15.4 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches)
Plate dimensions: approx. 24 cm (9.4 inches) diameter each
A beautiful example of classic French Barbotine pottery...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
George Jones Majolica Africa Lions Compote
By George Jones
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
George Jones Majolica compote which features a lion stood on one side and a lioness recumbent on the other. A snake is rearing it's head from a hole. All sit underneath a palm tree, ...
Category
1870s Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Vallauris Majolica Ceramic Wall Plate Trompe L
oeil Seafood Design
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Majolica glazed ceramic trompe l'oeil black small wall plate attributed to Vallauris. France, 1960s.
This plate has a black background a...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Pottery, Ceramic
Large Francois Maurice French Palissy Majolica Platter
By Francois Maurice
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Francois Maurice French Palissy Majolica wall platter which features three fish and an eel to the centre. Scattered around the platter are shellfish, a frog, a tortoise, a lizard, a snake, a langoustine, beetles, fern leaves, lily pads and cat tails. Colouration: blue, green, white, are predominant. The piece bears maker's marks for the Francois Maurice pottery.
Category
1890s Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Stunning large antique quality Majolica cheese dish
Located in Ipswich, GB
Stunning large antique quality Majolica cheese dish having a large quality dome shaped lift off top with a shaped handle decorated with flowers and leaves in wonderful green, pink, b...
Category
19th Century Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
$640 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Pair French Majolica Geese
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century Pair French Majolica Geese
Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
19th Century French Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
$1,100 / set
Jazz Tromba Majolica Vase by Ambrogio Pozzi for Rometti Umbertide
Located in Milan, Italy
Tromba vase designed by Ambrogio Pozzi and produced by Ceramiche Rometti Umbertide in 2006. Signed.
The majolica vase, covered in matt black enamel, is part of the Jazz series, forme...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Set of 11 French Majolica Asparagus Plates by Sarreguemines, 19th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A striking set of 11 antique French majolica asparagus plates, crafted by the renowned Sarreguemines pottery in the late 19th century. Each plate is molded in a stylized scallop shel...
Category
19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Faience, Majolica, Paint
Set of Five French Majolica Ceramic Snail Plates and Serving Platter
Located in Barcelona, ES
Serving set Snails design, Majolica, Glazed Ceramic, France, 1960s.
One of a kind escargot cocktail appetizer serving set: comprised of 5 Majolica ceramic snail...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Pottery, Ceramic
Eva Zeisel for Schramberg SMF Art Deco Pitcher Vase 1930s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Sculptural pitcher shaped vase features soft, rounded form with curved rim and handle; it is hand painted with Folk Art based flower motifs that are strongly influenced by Art Deco. ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Carlo Zauli Italian Modern Signed And Archived Archaic Vase
By Carlo Zauli
Located in Roma, IT
Archaic vase by Carlo Zauli 1953
Polychrome majolica Faenza
Vase in polychrome majolica, pear-shaped with an asymmetrical line and abstract-geometric decorations with relief borders....
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Majolica Fish Sealife Platter Vallauris, circa 1950
By Vallauris
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica sealife platter Vallauris, circa 1950.
High relief of fish, seaweeds, lemon, starfish.
Nautical style.
Measure: 11" diameter.
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Set of Four Majolica Asparagus Plates Attributed to Orchies
By Orchies
Located in Pembroke, MA
Set of four colorful French majolica asparagus plates attributed to Orchies. Each plate features six amethyst-colored molded asparagus spears resting on a leaf on a plate with turquo...
Category
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Italian Midcentury Modern Pottery Lemonade Set by Cas Vietri ICS Kowaliska Style
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Mid-Century Modern pottery lemonade set by CAS Vietri Italy set consisting of a pitcher, 6 beakers and a matching coffee mug. All pieces are decorated with hand painted scenes of rural life reminding of designs by Irene Kowaliska...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
$560 Sale Price
20% Off
George Jones Majolica America Buffalo Compote
By George Jones
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
George Jones Majolica compote which features two buffalo (American bison), one stood on one side and one recumbent on the other. A prairie dog stood upright on it's hind legs. All si...
Category
1870s Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century Majolica Pair of Jardinieres Butterflies
Snails Royal Worcester
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of Victorian Majolica jardinieres in a shape of wooden fence boxes with ivy, a snail and a butterfly signed Royal Worcester, circa 1...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
Rare French Majolica Violets Basket Sarreguemines Circa 1920
Located in Austin, TX
Charming French Majolica Violets basket signed Sarreguemines, circa 1900.
The manufacture of Sarreguemines produced severals examples of baskets with fruits, more rarely with animals...
Category
1920s French Rustic Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Unmatching Pair of Majolica Ceramic Trompe L
oeil Crab Lobster Large Wall Plates
Located in Barcelona, ES
Extra large spider crab and lobster seafood plates wall decoration, Majolica, glazed ceramic. Portugal, 1950s
Rare find.
A colorful pair of fine Majolica glazed ceramic plates with s...
Category
20th Century Portuguese Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic
Early 20th Century French Orchies Majolica Pig Pitcher
By Orchies
Located in Pearland, TX
A charming antique French majolica barbotine pig pitcher by Orchies, circa 1920. Maker's mark on reverse. This highly collectible pitcher, titled "Cochon au Jambon" (pig with ham), i...
Category
1920s French Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Antique Victorian Historism Majolica Pedestal Bowl / Centerpiece Knights Dragons
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This antique Historism centerpiece / pedestal bowl is made of polychrom glazed majolica and features four cartouches decorated with high relief knight helmets and dragons. The manufa...
Category
1880s German Rococo Revival Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
$409 Sale Price
50% Off
A German or Austrian majolica pottery figure of a gnome, circa 1880
Located in Central England, GB
This most unusual and very pleasing majolica pottery figure was made in Germany or Austria circa 1880 and it depicts a happy rosy cheeked gnome lying down on his front with his head...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Folk Art Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Pottery
Antique French Majolica Barbotine Jardinière Hunt Stag Onnaing Cache Pot Planter
By Onnaing
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French Majolica Barbotine Jardinière Hunt Stag Onnaing Cache Pot Planter.
Direct from France, a gorgeous 19th century antique French majolica jardinière or cache pot!
The ca...
Category
Late 19th Century French French Provincial Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century French Onnaing Majolica Pig Waiter Pitcher
By Onnaing
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb antique French majolica barbotine pig waiter pitcher by Onnaing, circa 1880. This delightful pitcher is designed as the "maitre d'hotel" or butler pig ready to serve, hand p...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
French Majolica Rooster Pitcher Keller and Guerin Saint Clement
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica rooster pitcher Keller and Guerin Saint Clement, circa 1900.
Original older model.
Height / 12.8 inches.
Category
Early 1900s French Rustic Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Grapes Wall Platter Longchamp
By Longchamp
Located in Austin, TX
Colorful 19th century French Majolica grapes wall platter signed Longchamp terre de fer. The fruits are in high relief with the leaves and branches.
The ma...
Category
1880s French Country Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
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
Victorian Majolica “Three-Legged Sailor” Teapot, Attributed William Brownfield
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Victorian Majolica “Three-Legged Sailor” Teapot, Attributed to William Brownfield
Sons, c. 1880
Dimensions: 9" H × 7" W × 5" D
This rare and engaging Victorian majolica teapot...
Category
19th Century English High Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Italian 19th Century Majolica Porcelain Centerpiece
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A beautiful and most decorative Italian 19th century Majolica porcelain centerpiece. The oblong shaped centerpiece is raised by lovely scalloped movements at the base with most decor...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
James Hadley Royal Worcester Rare Majolica Camel
Howdah
By James Hadley
Located in Bishop
s Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very rare and unusual antique Royal Worcester majolica pottery figure of a camel and howdah by renowned potter James Hadley (British, 1837-1903) and dated 22nd June 1870.
James H...
Category
1870s English Arts and Crafts Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Pottery
Rare 19th Century Majolica Strawberries Wall Platter Longchamp
By Longchamp
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Colorful 19th century French Majolica strawberries wall platter signed Longchamp terre de fer. The fruits are in high relief with the leaves and branches.
Diameter / 11.5 inches...
Category
1890s French Country Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
19th Century Portuguese Majolica Palissy Wall Lizard Platter
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Portuguese Platter with 2 lizards and a butterfly signed Mafra.Diameter / 4.5 inches.
Category
1880s Portuguese Country Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Aldo Londi, Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter Set of Majolica Vases Green Gold
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Set of 2 vintage majolica vases was designed by Aldo Londi and produced by Bitossi for Rosenthal Netter. The streamlined, conical vases are decorated with bands of gold over texture...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Gold
Zaccagnini for Marbro Asian Style Table Lamp Italy Midcentury Modern
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Unique ceramic table lamp with glossy, buttery yellow crackle glaze body and forest green and brown abstract Asian-inspired relief motifs was made in Italy by Società Anonima Cerami...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Swedish Rörstrand Majolica Turquoise Chestnut Leaf Plate
By Rörstrand
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique 19th-Century Swedish chestnut leaf majolica dessert plate produced by the renowned Rörstrand company, one of Sweden's oldest ceramic factories, circa 1880. Impressed...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century French Painted Ceramic Barbotine Basket from Montigny-sur-Loing
Located in Dallas, TX
Place this sculptural, antique jardinière on a shelf or on a kitchen counter for a pop of color. Crafted in Montigny-sur-Loing, France circa 1860, the colorful basket has a central handle and features a double vase decorated with floral and leaf motifs in high relief. The elegant, artistic planter with flowers is in excellent condition and has rich, pigmented colors in a blue, black, green and pink palette. Different markings on the bottom.
Impressionist ceramics term generally applies to "paint the slip" or "batch gouache". At the turn of the 19th and 20th 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
19th Century Swedish Rörstrand Majolica Turquoise Chestnut Leaf Plate
By Rörstrand
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique 19th-Century Swedish chestnut leaf majolica dessert plate produced by the renowned Rörstrand company, one of Sweden's oldest ceramic factories, circa 1880. Impressed...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
19th Century Swedish Rörstrand Majolica Turquoise Chestnut Leaf Plate
By Rörstrand
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique 19th-Century Swedish chestnut leaf majolica dessert plate produced by the renowned Rörstrand company, one of Sweden's oldest ceramic factories, circa 1880. Impressed...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Vallauris Extra Large Majolica Ceramic Scalloped Leaf Platter / Centerpiece
By Vallauris
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching large leaf shaped glazed ceramic platter, serving tray or centerpiece manufactured by Vallauris. France, 1950-1960s.
Interesting to be used as decorative centerpiece bow...
Category
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
French Majolica Rooster Pitcher Keller and Guerin Saint Clement
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica rooster pitcher signed Keller and Guerin Saint Clement, circa 1900.
Original older model.
Measure: Height / 12.8 inches.
Category
Early 1900s French Rustic Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Baldelli for Raymor Majolica Cylinder Vase, Mid Century Modern 1960s
By Baldelli
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage majolica vase features cylindical body, decorated with an abstract floral motif in mocha and espresso brown colors on soft grey-beige background. The interior surfaces are d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica, Porcelain
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 Furniture
Materials
Faience, Majolica
Léon Brard
s Midnight Pond -French Majolica Palissy Dish, "Frogs Amongst Lilies
Located in Downingtown, PA
Léon Brard's Midnight Pond Plate
French Majolica Palissy Dish, "Frogs Amongst Lilies"
Artist/Maker: Léon Brard (French, active late 19th century)
Date: Circa 1890
Medium: Earthenwa...
Category
1880s French Mid-Century Modern Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica, Pottery
Gaetano BATTAGLIA (Naples-Italy-Active 1850 and 1885) Pair of Large Plates
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of Large Plates
Gaetano Battaglia 19th century
made of earthenware decorated with mythological scenes Italy (Naples)
Diameter 50 cm
good cond...
Category
19th Century Italian Rococo Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Cunha Palissy Majolica Snake and Lizard Wall Plate
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Jose A Cunha Portuguese Palissy Majolica wall plate which features a snake attacking a lizard. Insects around the outside of the plate include a grub, a worm, a butterfly and a beetl...
Category
1890s Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
Antique Majolica Heron Crane Stork Bird Water Lily Creamer Pitcher Jug 7"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Majolica Heron / Crane / Stork creamer pitcher / jug featuring the bird eating a fish on a water lily pad.
Dimensions:
5.25" x 4.25" x 7" (Width x Depth x Height)
Category
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Majolica
$175 Sale Price
30% Off
Portuguese Majolica Palissy Pears Platter Circa 1930
Located in Austin, TX
Portuguese Majolica pears platter signed , circa 1930.
Category
1930s Portuguese Country Vintage Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
French Majolica Plate with Pumpkin
Snail Onnaing, circa 1890
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica plate with pumpkin & snail Onnaing, circa 1890.
Rare gray background.
Category
1890s French Rustic Antique Majolica Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica, Pottery
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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