Glazed and Confused: Majolica Insects Part 2: Beetles, Flies, Dragonflies and Other Insects

As we saw in Part 1, insects are a frequent component of majolica designs. Unlike butterflies and moths, flies, dragonflies, beetles and such are more often than not just a tiny addition to a design with other subjects as the main focus. There are some noticeable and stunning exceptions however.

The gigantic grasshoppers from the Massier pottery are probably the most extraordinary examples of insects in majolica. In the Judaeo Christian Bible grasshoppers are a metaphor for the insignificance of man. The Massier grasshoppers are anything but insignificant. Their large size and detailed modeling can only be described as a tour de force of the potter’s art.

Massier majolica grasshopper

This St. Clement pitcher is equally impressive.

St. Clement majolica grasshopper pitcher

Flies haven't got the best reputation among insects but this fly match box made by Wedgwood is a fanciful expression of the Aesthetic Movement as is this Palissy toothpick holder; two Tropic plates by Wedgwood; and a rare Holdcroft apple teapot.

Wedgwood majolica fly match box

Palissy majolica toothpick holder

Wedgwood majolica Tropic plate

Holdcroft majolica teapot

The noisy cicada has a long history of representation in majolica beginning in the 1880s with Massier Sarreguemines and Cunha and continuing into the Twentieth century with Louis Sicard, sometimes called "the father of the cicadas," and Villaurus. These were mostly used as wall pockets but in time the form expanded to vases, thermometers and wall and table top decoration as souvenirs for visitors to France.

Massier majolica cicada

Sarreguemines majolica cicada wall pocket

Caldas palissy majolica cicada plate

Villaurus majolica cicadas

Villaurus majolica cicada

Villaurus majolica cicada vases

Villaurus majolica cicada

Villaurus majolica cicada thermometer

The ubiquitous beetle is found in majolica in plenty though usually in support of some other focus of decoration, generally as a tasty meal for a bird or reptile as in these Jones vases and this Choisy-le-Roi cockatoo, but they also appeared on jugs by Caldas, wall pockets by Sarreguemines, Mafra and Fives Lille, jardinieres and plates.

George Jones majolica vases

Choisy-le-Roi cockatoo vase

Fives Lille majolica beetle

Mafra majolica beetle

Sarreguemines majolica wall pocket

This scarab box by Schiller & Son is clearly influenced by the European fascination with all things Egyptian. It has a stylized beetle on top and faux hieroglyphs around the sides

WS&S majolica sugar bowl

The elegant dragonfly, which became a symbol of the Art Nouveau movement, appeared in many forms on majolica. Hautin Boulanger's dragonfly handled server is a standout as is George Jones' pond lily cheese bell and garden seat. There is also Royal Doulton's dragonfly card tray and Minton's vase with dragonflies as well as numerous other insects.

Choisy-le-Roi dragonfly server

George Jones majolica pond lily cheese bell

George Jones majolica pond lily garden seat

Royal Doulton majolica card dray

Minton majolica insect vase

I have also always loved the design of this plain dragonfly and pond lily plate and these Wedgwood pieces: the Lincoln pattern jug and platter and the Argenta Tropic pattern plate.

Unattributed dragonfly tray

Wedgwood majolica St. Louis pitcher

Wedgwood majolica St. Louis platter

Wedgwood majolica Tropic plate

Of course there are numerous wall pockets by Fives Lille and Sarreguemines.

There are the wonderful fan dessert dishes from Shorter & Boulton, later copied by Willets of Trenton, NJ; a Wedgwood transfer plate. this bold continental jardiniere most likely from Czechoslovakia and a Continental plate with a border of dragonflies.

Shorter & Boulton majolica fan dish

Wedgwood majolica transfer plate

Then we have bees! A bee wall pocket from Sarreguemines; another Wedgwood Tropic plate with bees on a pomegranate; a honey pot from George Jones and two different honey pots from Minton.

Sarreguemines majolica wall pocket

George Jones majolica honey pot

Minton majolica bee skep honey pot

Minton majolica honey pot

Here we have two cute ladybug wall pockets, one by Fives Lille and one from Sarreguemines.

Sarreuemines ladybug wall pocket

There are also numerous uses of generic insects by all the potteries that would take an entomologist to identify, starting with a Jones jam pot and vase; a Fielding oyster dish; a Caldas plaque; a Jones strawberry server; a French Palissy plaque, and a Minton tile.

George Jones majolica frog footed vase

Fielding majolica Fan oyster plate

Mafra majolica Palissy charger

George Jones majolica strawberry basket

French Palissy majolica plaque

Minton majolica tile

A wonderful Mafra reptile plaque; a pair of Minton jardinieres; a Minton tile and box; an elegant Christopher Dresser Minton vase, and a rustic jardiniere.