WHAT IS MAJOLICA
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Majolica, click here
In 1851, English potter Herbert Minton introduced a new distinctive ware.
He called it majolica.
Majolica is an earthenware, molded with high or low relief decorations, which
is first fired to the biscuit stage, then decorated with brightly colored lead
or tin glazes and finally fired again.
This gives each majolica piece its characteristic brilliance.
With its bright colors and wonderful glazes, majolica was a welcome change
from creamware and blue and white transferware and soon it became very popular.
Whereas early majolica focused on Renaissance motifs (mythological figures,
lions, rams), later potters also drew inspiration from nature, the Far East
and even politics. Favorite motifs were leafs, flowers, animals, fruits, plants,
shells, fans and bamboo.
Companies such as Wedgwood, Minton, George Jones and Holdcroft produced Victorian
majolica from 1850 through 1900.
By the third quarter of the 19th Century, Continental pottery
firms also started to produce majolica as French, Belgian, German, Austrian
and Portuguese potters added their own interpretation of majolica to the market
until about 1930.
Manufactures such as Sarreguemines, Luneville, Saint-Clement, Orchies, Onnaing,
Choisy-le-Roi, Massier, Caldas, Villeroy & Boch and many more made wonderful
continental majolica, thereby often inspiring and influencing one another.
CONTINENTAL MAJOLICA: Nimy-lez-Mons, Wasmuel
Out of Brussels Antiques specializes in Continental majolica for different
reasons.
With our roots in Belgium, we are most familiar with the Continental majolica,
especially with pieces by Nimy-lez-Mons and Wasmuel, the 2 top Belgian majolica
producers.
Nimy-lez-Mons produced refined pieces, such as pitchers, planters, vases, umbrella
stands, and asparagus items, thereby using the same clay as some of the French
manufacturers and often using similar designs.
Wasmuel on the other hand, has a very distinctive look. The use of cobalt
blue in almost every piece, the unusual designs and patterns and the often
uneven backgrounds (dots, flowers, stripes) sets their pieces apart from other
majolica and makes a lot of collectors go wild for them.
It is also our opinion that Continental majolica proportionally offers more
value than the usually very expensive English pieces and this should be a relief
and an incentive for every beginning collector.
Although the basic manufacture of Continental pieces was the same as in England,
their glazes are more brilliant and their colors more vibrant. The use of deep
red, teal, blue and pink, is often less familiar to beginning collectors.
LOOKING FOR MARKS?
Some majolica pieces have a manufacturer's mark, which is either impressed
or painted/printed on the bottom or back of the piece.
Unfortunately, a lot of majolica is unmarked and can only be identified through
the presence of certain characteristics and experience. Many pieces remain
unidentified, but therefore not less desirable.
CONDITION
It's important to remember that majolica dates from the end of the 19th Century
and that it was used almost every day, by the entire family. It's only normal
that a lot of majolica is damaged and that collectors are forgiving if a good
piece has chips, hairlines or repairs.
OLD OR NEW?
The easiest way to identify a piece of majolica is through any marks it may
have.
Otherwise, you will need to look for familiar designs and pay attention to
the characteristic glazing and crazing, which gives the old pieces a different
look and feel. So, go out and handle as many pieces as you can!
Finally, it's always safe to buy your pieces from professional antique dealers
who specialize in majolica.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR?
- Your favorite patterns and colors
- Good glazes
- Fun
Finally, nobody knows how much majolica was produced, so let the chase begin, right
here, right now!
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