Citations:majolica
English citations of majolica
In English, the spelling 'majolica' was and still is used to describe both colored glazes earthenware and tin-glazed earthenware. The "j" was and still is pronounced as both long "i" as in 'mike', and hard "j" as in 'jack'. Note the original spelling 'maiolica' was and is only ever used to describe tin-glazed earthenware.
To eliminate ambiguity, citations for the two distinct 'majolica's' (distinct in appearance, origin, style, and process/technique) should include a qualifier alongside the word 'majolica' to show which ceramic is being cited.
Citations used in the Entry have been deleted from this list unless they require comment not allowed in the Entry. Davidmadelena (talk) 12:37, 6 July 2019 (UTC)
1. MAJOLICA meaning tin-glazed earthenware. Qualifiers: dateable to before 1848, 'maiolica', 'tin-glazed', 'tin-enameled', 'opaque', 'white', 'brushwork', 'delft', 'stanniferous', 'faience', 'Minton tin-glazed majolica'.
1830, Encyclopaedia Americana, Majolica, Volume 38/1 A fine sort of pottery was manufactured there (Faenza) at that period, which the Italians called Maiolica.
1850, Gentleman's Mag. Aug. 165/1 The early specimens of Majolica of the fourteenth century...are...ornamented with arabesque patterns in yellow and green upon a blue ground.
1851, Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal. 282/1 Messrs. Minton & Co., of Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, exhibit some excellent flower-vases, coloured after the style of the old Majolica.
1851, London Journal of Arts, Science, & Manufacture, Great Exhibition of the Works of all Nations, page #:61 The specimens of the revived majolica in the Exhibition are by Minton; but the style of art in which they are executed does not deserve commendation. ['Revived' refers to Italian Renaissance tin-glaze maiolica style and process. Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)]
1855, Nov. 10, The Illustrated London News, p. 561, The collection of Palissy and Majolica ware, however, is that which appears to have created the greatest sensation among Parisian connoisseurs. The reader will remember that the main difference in these wares is that whereas the Palissy ware is coloured by a transparent glaze Majolica ware contains the colour (opaque) in the material [in-glaze brush-painted decoration on opaque white enamel Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)]. One sample of Palissy ware— being a little tea-service spread upon a leaf, the legs of the teapot being snails [...]
1856, J C Robinson Curator of the Museum of Ornamental Art, Marlborough House, Catalogue of the Soulages Collection, a Descriptive Inventory of collection formerly in the possession of M. Jules Soulages of Toulouse, page 6 This class of Majolica has usually a brilliant white ground, produced by […] the stanniferous [tin-glaze] covering […] previous to the execution of the ornaments [brush painting with metallic oxides enamels], increased brilliancy and tone being given by a final vitreous glaze [colourless lead glaze]…
1857, Joseph Marryat, History of Pottery and Porcelain, Medieval and Modern, p.53, The factories where Majolica was produced are classed as follows: 1.Gubbio 2.Urbino 3. Castel Durante…
1858, painted by Thomas Kirkby, Catalogue of the Exhibition of Works of Art, Large Plateau; Majolica, with Portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, Exhibit No. 36, Manufactured by Minton & Co., Stoke-upon-Trent, described as tin-glazed [This Plateau is now in V and A http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O77549/plate-kirkby-thomas/ described as 'imitation maiolica' Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)]
1877, Leon Arnoux, British Manufacturing Industries, section on POTTERY, Majolica [English, tin-glazed, opaque white, brush-painted with colours] was produced for the first time by Messrs. Minton, in 1850, and they have been for many years the only producers of this article. The name of majolica is now applied indiscriminately to all fancy articles of coloured pottery. When, however, it is decorated by means of coloured glazes, if these are transparent, it ought to be called Palissy ware […] Messrs. Wedgwood, George Jones, and a few other makers of less importance, are reproducing it more or less successfully. To Messrs. Minton, however, we owe the revival of the ware [the coloured lead glazes ware they named 'Palissy ware'], which, in connection with [alongside] their majolica [the English tin-glazed ware], created such a sensation in the French International Exhibition of 1855.}} [Comments in square brackets by Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)] https://archive.org/stream/britishmanufact08goog#page/n56/mode/2up
1897, James Ward, HISTORIC ORNAMENT, Chapter 1 POTTERY. A further addition of the oxide of tin to the vitreous or plumbeous [lead] transparent glaze, in comparatively small quantities, produces the opaque enamel known as a stanniferous or tin glaze. This is the enamelled glaze of the Della Robbia ware, of the Hispano-Moresque, and of the Italian maiolica. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/59971/59971-h/59971-h.htm
1900, Frederick Litchfield, Pottery And Porcelain, A Guide to Collectors, p.35, …most of the finest European ceramic specimens only date back to a relatively recent period - for majolica the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, … https://archive.org/details/potteryandporce00litcgoog/page/n62?q=majolica
1964, H. Hodges, Artefacts ii., 51, Today the terms faience, majolica, and tin-enamel glaze are all variously applied to mean wares covered with a tin-opacified lead glaze which has been coloured with over-glaze designs.
1969, R. Mayer, Dict. Art Terms & Techniques, 231/1, The high reputation of majolica as a ware of outstanding design and quality was gained in Renaissance Italy from the 15th to the 17th century.
1976, Shafer, Thomas, Pottery craft, Decoration and ornament, Glazes, pp94-96, 114, 120, 140, Majolica, also called maiolica: […] Italian and other decorated tin-glazed earthenware. Majolica decorating technique is the application of colourants on a raw glaze surface, the decoration melting into the glaze in firing.
2009, Majolica entry, World Book Encyclopaedia, page 94. Majolica is a type of pottery glazed with tin oxide to produce a soft white color. The name is sometimes spelt maiolica. Designs are painted on the white background with other metallic oxides. […] https://archive.org/details/worldbookencycl413worl/page/94?q=majolica?q=majolica
2015, 17 December, Majolica International Society latest web news: Peggy Crago Majolica, Colorado, USA, a large company producing tin-glazed majolica in interview said "You dip it in the white glaze. Once it dries, it's very absorbent. I do a lot of brushwork and painting."
2018, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Tin-glazed earthenware (majolica) plate depicting Apollo, by Francesco Xanto Avelli of Rovigo, c, 1530 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francesco-Xanto-Avelli Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 From <https://www.britannica.com/bps/license/creative-commons-legal-code/442601>.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin-glazing
OED definition A kind of earthenware made in imitation of Italian maiolica, especially in England during the 19th century. [This is a definition of English tin-glaze majolica only. No definition is given for coloured lead glazes majolica. Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)]
Britannica definition: tin-glazed earthenware, also called tin-enameled earthenware, earthenware covered with an opaque glaze that, unless colour has been added, is white. It is variously called faience, majolica, and delftware. Essentially it is lead glaze made opaque by the addition of tin oxide.
2019 Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majolica 1: earthenware covered with an opaque tin glaze and decorated on the glaze before firing especially : an Italian ware of this kind 2: a 19th century earthenware modeled in naturalistic shapes and glazed in lively colors
2. MAJOLICA meaning colored glazes earthenware. Qualifiers: dateable to after 1848, used in the same sentence as tin-glazed majolica/maiolica, 'coloured glazes', 'colored lead glazes', 'Mintons Palissy ware', 'lead-glazed majolica'
1855, Nov. 10, The Illustrated London News, page 561, The collection of Palissy and Majolica ware, however, is that which appears to have created the greatest sensation among Parisian connoisseurs. The reader will remember that the main difference in these wares is that whereas the Palissy ware is coloured by a transparent glaze Majolica ware contains the colour (opaque) in the material [in-glaze brush-painted decoration on opaque white enamel Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)]. One sample of Palissy ware— being a little tea-service spread upon a leaf, the legs of the teapot being snails [...]
1867, Leon Arnoux, Reports on the Paris Universal Exhibition, Mr. Arnoux on Pottery, p.391, [Minton] combine upon their majolica different sorts of transparent [coloured glazes] and opaque [tin-glazed] enamels… sometimes [decorated] in the Italian method [tin-glazed][…] and sometimes painting upon the […] biscuit […] [coloured glazes] [Comments in square brackets by Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)]
1872, Arthur Beckwith, International Exhibition, POTTERY, Observations on the Materials and Manufacture of Terra-Cotta, Stone-ware, Fire-Brick, Porcelain, Earthenware, Brick, Majolica and Encaustic Tiles: The Palissy ware, formed of embossed [relief molded] biscuit covered with transparent glazes of various colours, is frequently called majolica…
1877, Leon Arnoux, British Manufacturing Industries, section on POTTERY, p42 Majolica [English, tin-glazed, opaque white, brush-painted with colours] was produced for the first time by Messrs. Minton, in 1850, and they have been for many years the only producers of this article. The name of majolica is now applied indiscriminately to all fancy articles of coloured pottery. When, however, it is decorated by means of coloured glazes, if these are transparent, it ought to be called Palissy ware […] Messrs. Wedgwood, George Jones, and a few other makers of less importance, are reproducing it more or less successfully. To Messrs. Minton, however, we owe the revival of the ware [the coloured lead glazes ware they named 'Palissy ware'], which, in connection with [alongside] their majolica [the English tin-glazed ware], created such a sensation in the French International Exhibition of 1855. [Comments in square brackets by Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)]
1878, Jewett, L., The Ceramic Art of Great Britain, Minton and Hollins have revived the art of majolica and Palissy ware, and produced the most magnificent specimens… ever attained in this description of pottery.
1878, Bergesen Majolica, p.37, citing Pottery and Glass Trades Review (September 1878), said of Minton’s exhibit at Paris, “There is nothing from the English side of the Channel to beat or even view with Messrs. Minton’s costly crowd of majolica and Palissy wares.”
1968, Wolf Mankowitz, Reginald G. Haggar, Art Director at Mintons Ltd. 1929-1939, The Concise Encyclopaedia of English Pottery and Porcelain, MAIOLICA should not be confused with MAJOLICA – the name absurdly given by Victorian Potters to earthenware decorated with coloured lead glazes […]
1987, 1st edition 1969, Griselda Lewis, A Collectors History of English Pottery, p251, Minton maiolica seahorse and Cupid group modelled by Albert Carrier de Belleuse and decorated in coloured glazes. It bears the Minton date mark for 1859. [An example of a 20thC English author describing lead-glazed figure in V&A as 'maiolica'.] Link to V&A object: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O336946/majolica-ware-figure-carrier-belleuse-albert/ Davidmadelena (talk) 18:09, 13 June 2019 (UTC)
1989, Marilyn G. Karmason & Joan B. Stacke, Majolica: a complete history and illustrated survey, p. 33, The Italian spelling 'maiolica' will be used when referring to the [tin-glazed] Renaissance ware, and the nineteenth-century English spelling 'majolica' for the Victorian ware [1848-1900][the mass-produced coloured glazes ware, and also the rare tin-glazed 1848-1870 Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)].
2000 June, OED Third Edition, majolica, n. and adj., During the 19th cent. majolica was the predominant spelling, with j pronounced /dʒ/, although maiolica also occurs (see maiolica n. and adj.). Cent. Dict. (1890) added an ‘Italian pronunciation’ with /j/, while N.E.D. (1904) and Webster (1909) gave alternative naturalized pronunciations, with /dʒ/ and /j/. The j spelling, though not uncommon, became less frequent than the i spelling during the 20th cent. in British use in sense A. 2, the spelling maiolica frequently being used in sense A. 2 (especially by art historians) contrastively with majolica in sense A. 3; U.S. dictionaries, however, still record the j spelling and corresponding pronunciation with /dʒ/ as commoner (compare French, in which the spelling maïolique is in the late 20th cent. much less common than majolique, with corresponding pronunciation with /ʒ/; for the j spelling compare also German Majolika, Dutch majolica).
2018, Claire Blakey, Minton Archive, Minton Majolica: A Visual Feast of Victorian Opulence, http://www.themintonarchive.org.uk/in-depth-minton-majolica/ Majolica is the term used to describe pottery made of an earthenware body coated with semi-translucent coloured lead glazes. It was developed at the Minton factory in the late 1840s by Léon Arnoux, who had come to the Potteries in 1848.
2018, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Wedgwood Swan Vase, 208520, Nineteenth-century majolica, a type of earthenware covered in thick colored glazes, was first introduced by the Minton factory in 1851. Majolica, which differs from Italian sixteenth-century maiolica from which it was loosely derived ['from which it was loosely derived' is factually inaccurate Davidmadelena (talk) 09:10, 11 June 2019 (UTC)], was made by a number of other English and American factories during the second half of the nineteenth century. From <https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/208520?&searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&ft=majolica&offset=80&rpp=80&pos=85>.
2019 Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majolica
1: earthenware covered with an opaque tin glaze and decorated on the glaze before firing especially : an Italian ware of this kind
2: a 19th century earthenware modeled in naturalistic shapes and glazed in lively colors THIS ONE
3. MAJOLICA, where the type of majolica being cited is ambiguous or unclear
1856, The Art Journal,
The Minton Majolica is one of the most successful revivals of modern pottery; the spirit of the early works is evidenced in the reproductive style and there is both in the materials and manufacture in the models, in their manipulation and in their decoration, a very marked and acknowledged superiority.
COMMENT - 'The Minton Majolica' alongside the qualifier 'early works' probably referring to early Italian tin-glazed maiolica, at this date 1856 possibly refers to the Minton tin-glazed majolica in imitation of Italian Renaissance maiolica alone. But the meaning is unclear as it might also refer to the Minton coloured glazes Palissy ware later known as majolica. Davidmadelena (talk) 10:03, 11 June 2019 (UTC)
1858, Digby Wyatt, M., Journal of the Society of Arts May 26 p.422. On the influence exercised on Ceramic Manufactures by the late Mr. Herbert Minton.
Luca della Robbia ware, Majolica, and Palissy ware...Theoretically speaking, the basis of manufacuture is common to all three - viz., a calcareous clay body, covered with an opaque white enamel, composed of sand, lead, and tin - colours being added by enamelled glazes.
COMMENT - False. Palissy ware was manufactured using a paint/fire process, coloured lead glazes on biscuit body. Majolica (maiolica) was manufactured using a dip/dry/paint/fire process, dip or coat biscuit body in tin-glaze, dry, paint enamels on/into dried surface then fire.
2000, June, Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Third Edition,
Sense 3. A type of earthenware first made in the 19th cent., with coloured decoration on an opaque white tin (or sometimes lead) glaze, of vaguely Renaissance inspiration; (also) the technique of painting on to unfired opaque white glaze. Freq. attrib. Majolica was introduced by Henry Minton in 1851; it is typically used for large decorative items, tableware, tiles, and figures.
COMMENT - 'A type of earthenware first made in the 19th century' is true of Minton tin-glazed earthenware, and is true of nearly all coloured glazes earthenware;
'coloured decoration on an opaque white tin (or sometimes lead) glaze' is true of tin-glazed earthenware, not true of opaque white coloured lead glaze which would be one of many colours applied direct to the earthenware biscuit;
'(or sometimes lead)' would confuse a reader who did not know that tin-glaze is normal lead glaze with a tiny amount of added tin.
'of vaguely Renaissance inspiration;' is true of the rare Minton tin-glazed majolica, not true of all 19th century tin-glazed earthenware, and not true of all 19th century coloured glazes earthenware.
'(also) the technique of painting on to unfired opaque white glaze.' True of all tin-glazed earthenware. Not true of coloured glazes earthenware.
'Freq. attrib. Majolica was introduced by Henry Minton in 1851;' true of the rare Minton tin-glaze majolica, and true of all coloured glazes majolica/maiolica.
'it is typically used for large decorative items, tableware, tiles, and figures.' Not true of 19th century tin-glazed majolica/maiolica. True of 19th century coloured glazes earthenware.
2009, thepotteries.org, http://www.thepotteries.org/photo_wk/053.htm
Minton majolica was created by Joseph Leon Francois Arnoux who was appointed Art Director at Minton in 1848. His primary task was to introduce and promote new products. At the time there was great interest in classical design and bright colour. Arnoux decided to reintroduce the work of Bernard Palissy, whose naturalistic, bright coloured "majolica" wares had been popular in the 16th century. However, Arnoux used a thicker body to make pieces more sturdy. This body was given a coating of opaque white glaze which provided a surface for over painting in brightly coloured opaque glazes. Later, transparent glazes were used over relief moulding.
COMMENT - In 16th century Palissy's relief moulded wares were called rustiques figulines not majolica. The body of Palissy's rustique figulines was never coated in opaque white glaze over-painted in colours, but with transparent/translucent coloured glazes. Davidmadelena (talk) 12:47, 17 November 2019 (UTC)
2013, Ellie Tennant, Homes and Antiques, Magical Majolica
It was revivalist Leon Arnoux, art director at Minton and Co in the mid-19th century, who coined the term 'majolica'. Fascinated by 16th-century tin- and lead-glazed painted Italian maiolica, he developed a range of lookalike, brightly glazed pieces. But when he launched them at The Great Exhibition in 1851,he did so under the name of Palissy Ware presumably to mirror a contemporary French trend for the rediscovered glazing and enamelling processes of 16th-century French potter Bernard Palissy. It was the name 'majolica' that caught on, however.
COMMENT - We sense Ellie may be writing about two products but it is all very confusing.
"Fascinated by 16th-century tin- and lead-glazed painted Italian maiolica, he developed a range of lookalike, brightly glazed pieces." would be clearer as
"Fascinated by 16th-century tin-glazed Italian maiolica and coloured glazes French Palissy rustiques figulines, he developed imitation Italian tin-glazed maiolica, and a range coloured lead glazes in imitation of Palissy's process."
Neither product was named Palissy ware in the 1851 Exhibition Catalogue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_majolica#Great_Exhibition_(1851) Davidmadelena (talk) 13:48, 17 November 2019 (UTC)
2019, OED online, https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/majolica
A kind of earthenware made in imitation of Italian maiolica, especially in England during the 19th century.
COMMENT - 'in imitation of Italian maiolica' stylistically is true of all tin-glazed majolica but only some coloured glazes majolica. Re process, it is true of all tin glazed majolica, not true of colored glazes majolica.
'...especially in England during the 19thC' is true of all coloured glazes majolica, and is true of only the rare Minton tin-glazed majolica. Davidmadelena (talk) 13:19, 6 July 2019 (UTC)
2019, Mirriam-Webster,
Sense 2. a 19th century earthenware modeled in naturalistic shapes and glazed in lively colors.
COMMENT - Very close, but 'naturalistic shapes' excludes perhaps 30% of coloured glazes majolica. Davidmadelena (talk) 09:41, 7 July 2019 (UTC)
'...in lively colors' would be more exact as '...in lively coloured lead glazes' to distinguish it from Sense 1 which can also be described as decorated 'in lively colors'.
2019, Kovels Price Guide, https://www.kovels.com/price-guide/pottery-porcelain-price-guide/dish/lobster-amidst-cabbage-leaves-circular-1896-17-in./majolica.html?Itemid=&eid=1077333
Majolica is a general term for any pottery glazed with an opaque tin enamel that conceals the color of the clay body. It has been made since the fourteenth century. Today’s collector is most likely to find Victorian majolica.
COMMENT - 'Majolica of the fourteenth century' always refers to tin-glazed (dip, dry, paint, fire). Victorian majolica in Europe almost invariably refers to coloured lead glazes (paint, fire). In America 'majolica' refers to both tin-glazed and coloured lead glazes majolica. No distinction made between two types of majolica different in process, history, appearance and qualities.
4. Citations relevant to MAJOLICA but not containing the word 'majolica
1633, Charles Butler, English Grammar <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J> The first English language book to make a clear distinction between ⟨i⟩ and ⟨j⟩ was published in 1633.
1873, Penn Journal Pottery and Porcelain, p. 645 …it may be well to explain that enamel is glass, made opaque by the oxide of tin, and rendered fusible by the oxide of lead.
1877, L. Arnoux, Art Director and Superintendent of Minton's Factory, BRITISH MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. POTTERY.
Most of the Italian towns had their manufactory, each of them possessing a style of its own. Beginning at Caffagiolo and Deruta, they extended rapidly to Gubbio, Ferrara, and Ravenna, to be continued to Castel Durante, Rimini, Urbino, Florence, Venice, and many other places.
COMMENT - Neither of the words 'majolica' or 'maiolica' used
1920, Joseph Breck, Mediaeval and Renaissance Decorative Arts and Sculpture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, p. 180, …a notable collection of Roman pottery covered with metallic glaze. This rare fabric has only recently received careful attention, and is of special interest as marking the first introduction of the colored lead glazes which are still in general use today.
French citations of majolica
2019, Musée Sarreguemines, Musée de la Faience, [1] La majolique A la fin des années 1870 apparaît un produit qui renforce la notoriété de Sarreguemines en Europe: la majolique. Il s’agit d’une faïence fine recouverte de glaçures colorées. Les couleurs privilégiées: le gros bleu, le bleu turquoise, le vert dit bronze. Les bibelots, « objets de fantaisie » ainsi que certaines pièces monumentales bénéficient largement de cette nouvelle technique.