Wedgwood Pink Shell Pearlware

In 1986 I decided to drive to New Orleans on a whim. While there I did an antique shop hop through the French Quarter in search of majolica. I wandered into a crowded shop that specialized in culinary antiques because I thought I might find some majolica there. Well, they did have some majolica there, some Palissy, but it wasn't the majolica that caught my eye.

In the main room of the shop a large dining table had been set with a huge service of Victorian Wedgwood pink shell pearlware. I had never seen this before and was stunned by its beauty–shells in every shape and size delicately decorated in creamy white, pale yellow, lavender and deep majolica pink. The price of the entire service was many thousands of dollars, far too much for a wandering artist/fledgling antique dealer, but it left an impression that has lasted 24 years.

Wedgwood pearlware dessert  9" plate. Also made in a smaller size.

Wedgwood pearlware nautilus center

Wedgwood pearlware server

Wedgwood pearl serving plate

Wedgwood pearlware covered tureen with underplate

Wedgwood pearlware underplate

Wedgwood pearlware shell tureen

Wedgwood oyster plate decorated to match series 

Wedgwood pearlware escargot/oyster plate

Wedgwood pearl salmon platter

I mention this here because this lovely ware is often confused for majolica. It's easy to see the confusion. It was made during the same Victorian period as majolica. It is marked like Wedgwood majolica from this period with an impressed WEDGWOOD and a date code on an opaque white reverse. Of course it is rich with the pinks and lavenders one sees in majolica. It also finds its way into majolica auctions and majolica collections.

But it is not majolica.

Wreathed Shell patterns from the 1878 Wedgwood catalog of 

ornamental shapes from the Wedgwood museum

It is a particular type of creamware made by Wedgwood during the late eighteenth and nineteenth century called pearlware. It has an opaque white glaze with a very pale blue cast that is decorated after firing with enamels. The shell molds themselves have been in almost continuous use at Wedgwood from the time of Josiah Wedgwood. Majolica has been made extensively in these shapes as have a number of other wares including bone china.

Wedgwood majolica shell plate

Wedgwood bone china Nautilus Collection 

But it is the pink pearlware that captures the heart. Its popularity usually brings majolica-type prices. It also displays beautifully with majolica, particularly turquoise and green majolica.

Wedgwood pearl butter pat

Wedgwood pearl condiment/butter pat

Perhaps you can understand how a full service made such a strong impression on me all those years ago.

So the next time you see some Wedgwood pink pearlware feel free and add some to your majolica collection. I think you'll be glad you did.

Majolica Spotlight: Mustache Cups

Wedgwood St. Louis majolica mustache cup & saucer

One of the first majolica collections I ever saw was a collection of majolica mustache cups. I had never heard of majolica mustache cups before and this collection was just so cool!

In the years since then I have bought and sold many mustache cups and have become aware of how rare these can be. As you might expect, men seem to be the main collectors of this Victorian sub specialty. I've actually never met a woman who cared for them except as a gift for a male friend or relation.

Mustache or moustache cups, for those who are not familiar with them, are a specific type of coffee or tea cup with a special guard to protect a gentleman's mustache from being soiled. They were invented by a British potter, Harvey Adams in the 1860's, but they were actually more popular on the continent than in Great Britain.

They must have been quite a popular novelty in their day though because it appears most major majolica makers made them.

Fielding majolica mustache cup & saucer

Hawley & Co. mustache cup and saucer

Adams & Bromley majolica mustache cup

Wardle bamboo majolica mustache cup & saucer

Forester majolica mustache cup & saucer

Adams & Bromley/Forester majolica mustache cup & saucer

Wedgwood Fan mustache cup with color mismatched saucer

Wedgwood Shell mustache cup

Wardle/Lear majolica mustache cup & saucer

Wardle Fan majolica mustache cup & saucer

Wardle Sunflower majolica mustache cup & saucer

Shorter & Boulton majolica mustache cup & saucer

Samuel Lear majolica mustache cup

Holdcroft pomegranate majolica mustache cup & saucer

Forester majolica mustache cup & saucer

Fielding majolica Ribbon mustache cup & saucer

Fielding Fan majolica mustache cup & saucer

Forester majolica mustache cup & saucer

Fielding majolica mustache cup & saucer

Shorter & Boulton Atlantic mustache cup

This novelty crossed the pond and found a home at the Etruscan Works as well. The majolica Shell mustache cup has long been one of the most sought after pieces in this wonderful series.

Etruscan Majolica Shell mustache cup & saucer

Etruscan Shell Ivory Ware mustache cup and saucer

The good news is that majolica mustache cups have come down in price quite a bit since the 2008 economic bust on Wall Street. The bad news is that they have also become more rare. It seems inevitable that the prices will rise again so you should snatch them up while you still can.

For more on mustache cups pick up collector Glen Erardi's book on the subject, Mustache Cups: Timeless Victorian Treasures from Schiffer.