fall in love with majolica

what is it?

Majolica refers to earthenware pottery that is fired, coated with an opaque white tin-based glaze, then decorated with powdered pigments before additional firings.

inspiration from China

The technique of tin-glazed earthenware traces back to 9th-century Iraq, where potters in and around the port of Basra attempted to imitate the white pottery arriving from China that was made from porcelain-bearing clay fired to high temperatures in specialized kilns.

refinement in Spain

Tin-glazed ceramics spread throughout the Islamic world, reaching the Mediterranean.  By the late 14th century, Spanish potters in the Valencia area had refined the technique of creating lustered surfaces and were producing wares desirable across the European luxury market.  Wealthy Florentine merchant families were among their best customers.

flourishing in Italy

As demand grew in Italy for the Spanish ‘maiolica,’ as they called it, local potters sought to compete for the market, leading to the development of many decorative traditions throughout the peninsula.  By the 15th century, potters in North Central Italy achieved highly refined painting techniques, making majolica a Renaissance art form in its own right. Production flourished in centers like Montelupo, which especially fed Florentine enthusiasm.

from pharmacy to table

One significant venue for majolica was the pharmacy, where the decorated vessels lining shelves served to advertise the products within and proclaim the quality of the pharmacy. Specialized forms could also have multiple functions; the albarello, which was made for storing dry medicinal products, could then be used in the home as a vase.
Another stage for majolica was the dining table, as even the most beautifully decorated dishes were made to be used, sparking conversation at meals in the villas of nobility. Nowhere near as costly as silver or crystal table settings, ceramics were more present in everyday life and could be customized to communicate status, tell stories, entertain, and delight.

why we love it

With its capacity to elevate humble materials through the skills employed in forming and decorating objects, majolica holds a special place in both Italian artisan tradition and in the global story of ceramics.