Quick Tips for Collecting Majolica
- Majolica wares sought most often today were introduced to the public at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851.
- Notable European manufacturers of majolica wares include Minton, Wedgwood, Holdcroft and George Jones. Two of the most recognized American names are Griffin, Smith and Hill, (Etruscan) and Chesapeake Pottery.
- Majolica values can range from hundreds to thousands and even damaged pieces can be worth a pretty penny if they’re noteworthy pieces.
- Reproductions abound in this field and many dealers as well as collectors are fooled by them. Take care when investing large sums in items representing as antique majolica.
My Introduction to Majolica
Many years when I was writing a newspaper weekly column, a reader came by my office with an interesting bowl. He asked me if I knew anything about it, and how much it might be worth.
Looking on the back of the bowl, I discovered that it was majolica. I knew that it was a type of vividly glazed pottery, numerous pieces had been produced in Europe and some pretty convincing reproductions were floating around the antiques marketplace, but that was basically it. I didn't own a book on this topic, so I decided to poke around on the Internet and a few of my general reference guides to see what I could come up with to share with this inquisitive man.
Achieving Majolica’s Distinctive Look
I learned that majolica is a type of soft earthenware ceramic formed with plaster of paris molds. The first base coat of glaze is lead-based and then brightly colored metal oxide glazes are applied on top. The ceramics then receive another firing.
During the second firing, the glazes interact creating the rich colors majolica pieces carry so well. These colors, and the unusual and varied objects they decorate, attract collectors to this distinctive type of pottery with intensity.
Many majolica artists looked to nature for inspiration. Ocean themes, farm animals, fruits and exotically colored plant motifs all find a home within the decoration of these earthenwares. Some majolica pieces, especially those depicting reptiles, sea life and other types of living creatures can be remarkably realistic looking too.
Makers of Majolica
The majolica most often collected today, which was developed by ceramics expert Herbert Minton and chemist Leon Arnoux, debuted at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. This "new" Victorian art form actually represented a culmination of ceramic artistry and glazing techniques spanning centuries according to Charles L. Washburne, a majolica expert, in an Antiques Council article.
Many pieces of majolica had no identifying marks. Some of the most notable English majolica manufacturers that did mark their wares are Minton, Wedgwood, Holdcroft and George Jones. Two of the most recognized American names are Griffin, Smith and Hill, (Etruscan) and Chesapeake Pottery. Pieces with these marks, especially the English versions, can be quite expensive with some pieces selling in the thousands although most list in the hundreds.
As for my reader's bowl (shown here), it was produced by Griffin, Smith and Hill (Etruscan) in Pheonixville, Pa. in the late 1800s. The pattern, which combines pinkish-coral colored seashells with dark greenery, is known as Shell and Seaweed. The estimated book value of the piece is $475, but a hairline crack on the inside of the bowl may deter an avid collector in paying quite that much to own it.
According to a Collecting Channel article, majolica from the Victorian era is often found with crazing (tiny cracks in the glaze). Some pieces may even have chips, cracks or repairs. Joyce Worley notes that this type of damage is common considering the age of these pieces and doesn't have much bearing on the price. I'm not sure if this is an accurate assessment overall.
All collectibles are more valuable if in pristine condition. The only exception to this rule is with extremely rare examples, which would apply to majolica as well. I think it’s more accurate to say that majolica pieces may still hold value if found in a damaged state, whereas other types of pottery may not.
Looking at majolica on a major online auction, there didn't seem to be as many bidders on damaged items as there were on items in good to excellent condition. I suppose the value of majolica would be much like any other type of antique, with the price and demand being determined by how much someone wants to own an item at any given time.
Learning More About Majolica
If you're interested in learning more about majolica, the most recommended resource seems to be The Collector's Encyclopedia of Majolica by Mariann Katz-Marks for Collector Books. And with numerous convincing reproductions on the market, taking a look at a good reference guide always makes sense before making major investments in antiques and collectibles.
