Majolica Asparagus Servers

Spring is finally here across North America and Europe, and if there is one vegetable most associated with Spring it is asparagus. Asparagus plates are probably the single most abundant servers found in majolica today. This is a result of the vegetable's immense popularity in Europe.

A native plant of Europe and Asia, asparagus has been under cultivation since at least the time of the the pharaoh. Its popularity in central and northwestern Europe however, is unequal to anywhere else in the world. All over Germany there are asparagus festivals to celebrate the first harvest of the season, asparagus contests to find the the fastest asparagus peelers, asparagus routes (sort of the equivalent of a bar hop but in asparagus) as well as the crowning of an Asparagus Queen! Needless to say this kind of acclaim accounts for the astounding variety of asparagus items in continental majolica.

One of the interesting facts about majolica asparagus servers is how the particular variety of asparagus featured on the majolica varies depending on the market the potter serves. Green tipped asparagus is favored in the UK. Hence the majolica servers from that area feature that variety on their majolica. In Germany and Belgium, white and purple tipped asparagus is preferred, so the servers potted for that market feature white asparagus. France, where most asparagus items are made, also created plates which incorporate artichokes, which are popular with the French market.

Asparagus majolica can usually be broken down into four types: Asparagus cradles; individual asparagus plates; serving items like sauce boats, pitchers and platters; and combination asparagus and artichoke plates.

Let's take a look at some asparagus cradles. These are sometimes potted as a cradle with a separate underplate that can serve as a platter, and sometimes potted in a single piece, like the famous Minton asparagus cradle. Drainage holes are common on the cradle.

Holdcroft majolica asparagus server

English majolica cradle

Salins majolica asparagus platter

Sarreguemines majolica covered asparagus server

Sarrguemines majolica asparagus cradle

Clairefontaine majolica asparagus platter

Dressler asparagus server

Creil Montereau majolica asparagus server

Onnaing majolica asparagus server

Wasmuël majolica asparagus server

Sarreguemines majolica asparagus server

Luneville majolica asparagus cradle

Fives Lille majolica asparagus platter with drainer

Luneville asparagus platter

Choisy-le-Roi majolica asparagus cradle

Minton majolica asparagus cradle

Then we have the individual plates. These commonly have a separate section for dipping sauce.

Orchies majolica

Minton individual asparagus server

Onnaing majolica asparagus plate

Creil Montereau asparagus plate

Luneville majolica asparagus plate

Clairefontaine majolica asparagus plate

St. Clement asparagus server

Luneville majolica asparagus plate

Salins majolica asparagus plate

Longchamps majolica plate

Longchamp majolica asparagus plate

Orchies majolica asparagus plate

Salins majolica asparagus plate

Marescaux Et Hahn majolica asparagus plate

Wasmuel majolica asparagus plate

Longchamps majolica

Luneville asparagus plate

St. Amand asparagus plate

St. Amand asparagus plate with dipping well

Sauce boats and separate platters are commonly made with asparagus themes.

Luneville asparagus sauce boat 

Julius Dresser majolica server

Julius Dresser asparagus server

Onnaing majolica asparagus pitcher

And finally there are combination artichoke and asparagus servers. These are most commonly made by potters in France where artichokes are popular.

Orchies majolica asparagus plate

Fives Lille combination asparagus/artichoke plate

K G Luneville asparagus/artichoke server

The cost of asparagus pieces vary. Many companies in Europe still make asparagus majolica so one needs to be sure the piece they are considering is antique. Add to that the large number of asparagus pieces that were produced in the last quarter of the 19th Century and the cost of the antique plates has maintained a steady price of about $100 a plate. Servers and cradles generally sell in the $250-$350 range with some particularly desirable designs like the Minton cradle usually selling in the $800-$1000 range.

The variety available in majolica asparagus plates is endless. These are but a few of the examples we found online but with a little investigation of your own you're bound to find a design that fits into your collection.