Victorian majolica pottery 1850-1920
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Sunday, November 21, 2021
Etruscan Majolica Pandora Ware
Etruscan Majolica Pandora tea set
In anticipation of the publication of the new hardcover edition of my book, Etruscan Majolica: The Definitive Reference to the Majolica of Griffen, Smith & Company, I am posting here the sixth video I prepared for a lecture on Etruscan Majolica created several years ago to promote the first edition of the book. The other videos can be found here (animals), here (leaves), here (flowers), here (shell), and here (utility).
The sixth video I’m posting shows pieces belonging to the Pandora series. Long misidentified as the "Classical" series, Pandora was made using majolica glazes but was not considered part of the general majolica line. It receives its name from the large luncheon plate which has an image of Hermes carrying Pandora, a copy of a sculpture by John Flaxman.
Mercury bringing Pandora to Earth by John Flaxman c.1854
As a rule, the Pandora series was not marked with the Etruscan Majolica circular logo with the exception of those designs that were appropriated for the multicolor majolica series. Pandora was marked instead using the Etruscan Works, Good, Strong and Handsome logo, or GSH. I’ve written about Pandora before, here.
Also in this video I include the Baseball Pitcher, the Asian peasant plate and the Holy Water Font which otherwise defy categorization.
Detailed descriptions of all the Pandora pieces, including sizes and details of the designs, appear in my book. Both Pandora and multicolored Etruscan Majolica examples are shown in the book and the video.
I hope you find the video worth your time.
Video©D.Bastas
Monday, November 15, 2021
Majolica Cane and Umbrella Stands
Some of the most glorious examples of majolica available to the collector today are majolica umbrella and cane stands.
Wedgwood Lincoln umbrella stand
The large size of these pieces allowed manufacturers the luxury of creating pieces of great detail and stunning design. Most of the large potteries created such pieces, often in patterns familiar to the average collector from tableware. Any lover of majolica is bound to adore these pieces for their look alone, ignoring the utilitarian function for which they were created. They also never fail to make a statement.
Victorian men and women of taste often walked with a decorative canes, but canes as walking devices go back thousands of years. Originally designed to assist in walking, canes became a status symbol to denote power as far back as the ancient Egyptians. One of most elegant examples of ancient walking sticks is in one of the pieces found in Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb.
Tutankhamen was buried with numerous walking sticks, but great rulers have for centuries carried sticks as symbols of their power. In the 17th century it became fashionable for people to carry elaborate canes as a regular part of their attire. This fashion peaked in the late Victorian age, so naturally they needed somewhere to store these, hence the potteries came to their rescue.
The history of umbrellas is a bit more recent, but not much. Parasols preceded umbrellas as a convenient way to protect oneself from the sun. Although these too go back to ancient Egypt, the Chinese were the first to waterproof their parasols with wax to protect from the rain. Like canes, umbrellas were considered a status symbol and were carried as a way of denoting one’s wealth. It wasn’t until the 16th century that umbrellas became more common. Around the 18th century umbrellas became a necessity among civilized folk. Never one to pass up an opportunity to make a profit, all manner of manufacturers made stands to house umbrellas when not in use.
Let’s take a look at some of these designs. Both English and Continental companies did ingenious things. Let’s start with the English.
Minton heron cane stand
Wedgwood majolica umbrella stand
Fielding majolica ostrich umbrella/cane stand
Fielding Argenta heron umbrella/cane stand
Fielding majolica Fan umbrella/cane stand
Fielding aesthetic umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft heron umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft tobacco umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft lily umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft bird umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft bamboo umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft majolica umbrella/cane stand
Holdcroft banana leaf stand
Holdcroft majolica heron cane stand
Unattributed majolica umbrella/cane stand, possibly Forester
Unattributed majolica boot umbrella/stand
Putti with cornucopia umbrella/cane stand attributed to Forester
Forester majolica dragon umbrella/cane stand
Forester majolica faux bois umbrella/cane stand
Brown-Westhead Moore Inuit umbrellas/cane stand
Brownfield faux bois umbrella stand
Unattributed English cane/umbrella stand
Bretby owl umbrella/cane stand
Bretby majolica cane stand
Bretby monkey umbrella stand
Bretby majolica crane umbrella/cane stands. Compare to the
Royal Dux examples below
Royal Doulton faïence cane stand
Unattributed majolica bulldog umbrella/cane stand
Unattributed umbrella/cane stand
Unattributed umbrella/cane stand
Continental potteries made amazing stands as well.
Wasmuël pug umbrella stand
Nimy majolica calla lily umbrella stand
Massier frog umbrella stand
Massier leaping fish umbrella stand
The Orchies cat umbrella stand from the catalog above. Signed Foubert
Wasmuël majolica umbrella stand
French Palissy fish umbrella stand
Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand
Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand
Unattributed Continental Art Nouveau majolica umbrella stand
Over the years I’ve seen beautiful collections of antique canes displayed in such stands, or you can do what I’ve done—fill them with peacock feathers! No matter how you use them they will add charm to your home.
Video: ©D.Bastas; Music: ©The Beatles
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