Already a member?
Sign in
Welcome! Wikis are websites that everyone can build together. It's easy!
- EasyEdit
- Edit tags
- Email page
-
(what's this?What are these tools?
People just like you can add or edit the content on this site. If you want to try editing, but aren't ready to add to this site, try our demo area.
Read more about editing pages at Wetpaint Central.
)
Majolica Pottery
Majolica pottery is characterized by molded naturalistic patterns, such as flowers, seashells, birds, and animals, painted in bright colors under a clear lead glaze. The name majolica was derived from the Mediterranean island Majorica, where a white-tin glazed pottery was made during the 14th and 15th centuries. Clever promoters began calling their brightly colored Victorian wares majolica when it was introduced at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London in 1851. Original 19th-century Victorian-era majolica was made by hand-pressing strips of clay into a mold in a process called press-molding. Handles, knobs, finials, and other features were almost always made in separate molds and then joined to the main body by hand.
The bottom of almost every old majolica piece has some type of spattered or sponged-on color. Color on the bottom was used primarily to hide imperfections and random paint drops picked up during production. All original majolica pieces were also glazed on the inside. Created to be practical and functional, a pitcher, cup, or creamer that wasn’t entirely glazed on the inside couldn’t be used to serve beverages because the surface could become dangerously unsanitary.
The bottom of almost every old majolica piece has some type of spattered or sponged-on color. Color on the bottom was used primarily to hide imperfections and random paint drops picked up during production. All original majolica pieces were also glazed on the inside. Created to be practical and functional, a pitcher, cup, or creamer that wasn’t entirely glazed on the inside couldn’t be used to serve beverages because the surface could become dangerously unsanitary.
Latest page update: made by jsonderg
, Apr 19 2007, 12:23 PM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by jsonderg
186 words added
view changes
- complete history)
Edited by jsonderg
186 words added
view changes
- complete history)
Keyword tags: None
(Edit tags)
More Info: links to this page