Majolica and Wedgwood

A Little History lesson about Majolica and Wedgwood

Leon Arnoux introduced majolica at Minton in 1850. It was a stone type earthenware body with good shape and form, vibrant colors, and a thick tin glaze.  He used natural themes such as flowers and animals.  A typical Victorian Majolica piece would include large garden ornaments plus all sorts of plates and dishes that were utilitarian and decorative.  Wedgwood began to manufacture Majolica about 10 years after Mintons.  Wedgwood’s glazes and modeling were denser and more formal than Minton’s.  Wedgwood’s majolica included cachepots, pitchers, candlesticks, cheese bells, umbrella stands, sardine boxes, plates in naturalistic patterns, bread trays.  In Wedgwood’s familiar “green ware” the green glaze emphasizes the low relief patterning, typical of basketwork and foliage. 

Majolica platter with Butterfly, Majolica pitcher accented by rope handle, and Wedgwood plate

Majolica was influenced by the design of the old “Cauliflower” and “Pineapple” teapots made by Thomas Whieldon, Wedgwood and other 18^th century Staffordshire potters.  Both English and American majolica potters reproduced the “Cauliflower” pattern and other raised fruit, vegetable, leaf and berry patterns, with green, yellow, pink, and brown, light blue and purple-blue glazed.  There is also a teapot of yellow corn and green leaves, similar to the old Whieldon “Pineapple” teapots, and a teapot, pitcher and sugar bowl of pink coral and green seaweed with accents of brown and blue, marked “Etruscan Majolica.”  Many late 19^th century majolica designs had rustic themes with backgrounds of basketry and wooden-bound buckets decorated with molded flowers, birds and fish animals.  Handles were made like rustic tree branches, rose stems and twined flowers and leaves.

At The Brick House Antique Center, we have many pieces of Majolica and Wedgwood for sale. Please stop by our store at 247 East Main St. Palmyra, or check us out on-line at: www.brickhouseantiques.com.  I have enjoyed researching this early pottery, I hope you find this blog informational.

Until next time—the Brick House Blogger!