Earthenware Ceramic
Palissyware
Today's Prices
Learn why Dr. Lori should appraise your Majolica
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Earthenware Ceramic

Majolica is a soft earthenware ceramic enhanced with tin and lead glazes. Majolica came of age during the Renaissance period of the 1400s-1500s in southern Europe. Shipped from the port of Majorca, the site where this style of earthenware got its name, the tin glazed ceramics were deemed “maiolica” or “majolica” wares during the reign of Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. You remember them from elementary school, they helped finance Christopher Columbus’ big trip to the New World. 

With great popularity and market success, the process of producing tin glazed earthenware ceramics quickly expanded to northern European sites. Earthenware with tin and lead glazes became known to ceramic locales in Germany, Russia, Scandanavia, and of course, Delft, Holland. 

Palissyware

By the 1700s, a ceramist named Bernard Palissy reformulated the Renaissance tin glazes and produced functional objects decorated with subjects such as marine life, fruits, and flowers. Called Palissyware, these majolica pieces became a big hit with the high socialites of the time. As well, Palissyware majolica was highly desirable during the Victorian age of the mid to late 1800s. 

During the 19th Century, the British redefined the quality and manner of majolica wares as artisans in the famous ceramic capitals of London, Staffordshire, and Stoke-on-Trent again reformulated the original tin and lead glazing techniques, the basis for common majolica. About 1850, Herbert Minton of the famed Minton porcelain factory inspired the creation, promotion, and widespread manufacture of majolica pieces based on Renaissance designs. As the Renaissance revival was in full swing in architecture and furniture design, course, Minton’s Florentine-inspired majolica wares followed this classical trend. Throughout England, highly decorated and texturally pleasing majolica objects were the perfect compliment to the Victorian home décor or English garden design. 

Today's Prices

Today, as in Victorian times, majolica is collected mainly for its colorful body and fascinating forms. Often times, majolica items relate to their use on dining tables or serving buffets. Majolica forms mimic a fine hostess’ table filled with delightful offerings. The objects regularly relate to autumn hunting or game subjects, sea creatures for the holiday seafood feast, and delicate summer tables filled with fruits and flowers. These tin and lead glazed ceramics remind today’s collectors of the Victorian notion of excess and abundance while simultaneously recalling the Renaissance period when hostesses took pride and social status in serving an abundant, plentiful, and visually appealing meal. 

Recently, Minton majolica pieces command high prices on the secondary market. For instance, two figural teapots by the Minton firm dating from circa 1875 sold recently in the tens of thousands of dollars. Even the reproduction majolica pieces and majolica style pieces which retain the bright colors of true majolica are bringing strong values in the hundreds of dollars, depending on various factors. With a sense of history and a flair for the homey, majolica ceramics look back to the past and uses bright colors to capture inspirational forms. 

Request an online appraisal of your majolica from Dr. Lori

Dr. Lori
Director
Masterpiece Technologies Inc.