2021 Year in Review

Another year of COVID. Political turmoil at the Capital. Climate change weather chaos. The United States war in Afghanistan. A new cold war with Russia. Vaccinations, vaccinations, vaccinations!

Any one of these could be the story of the year if this was a different kind of blog. Here though, we leave these things to news professionals and opinion pages of newspapers. 

The big story in our little neck of the planet is something a lot less controversial and significantly nicer: the opening of the Majolica Mania exhibit at the Bard Graduate Center. After a knockout catalog release in January that is bound to be the definitive reference to the art of Victorian majolica for years to come, the accompanying exhibit finally opened in September in New York after a delay of a year. 

Although we have not had the pleasure of seeing it as yet, reviews have been stellar. Borrowing pieces from some of the finest collections in the country as well as other institutions, Majolica Mania has brought majolica back to the forefront of the collecting world. At a time when distraction from world and local events is sorely needed, it is a refreshing diversion loudly announcing the return of majolica. Not that it really went anywhere for hardcore collectors who follow this blog, to see it advertised and appreciated is a welcome sight. Since the collapse of the ceramics market in 2007, majolica interest has been sorely absent from the editorial pages and interior design publications. It’s marvelous to see that such interest has returned.

The show opens with one of the best from Minton: the Minton majolica peacock.

Minton majolica peacock at the entrance to Majolica Mania

A view of the English majolica at the show

Wedgwood majolica urn in the foreground PHOTO: New York Social Diary

Showcase of majolica by various makers

Minton majolica

Wall of majolica oyster plates forms the backdrop for other pieces

Showcase with mixed majolica

Showcase with mixed majolica

Various Victorian majolica showing the relationship to maiolica

American majolica was displayed side by side with 

the magnificent English pieces.

American majolica on view at the Bard

Wedgwood swan vase in the forefront 

Minton, Wedgwood and George Jones majolica

Close up of a Minton fountain

A wall of Minton majolica

Memorial to the pottery workers commissioned for the 

show, Walter McConnell’s “A Requiem in White”

Dr. Susan Weber, shown in front of Minton's Queen Victoria 

charger, helped organize the show at the Bard. PHOTO: New York Social Diary

Like any other contemporary art exhibition, this one has collectibles in their gift shop. Shown are die cut majolica coasters.

Of course the Majolica Mania catalog is also available for sale.

In February 2022, the show moves to the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore to be followed by exhibition at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery at Stoke-on-Trent in October 2022.

In other news, the prices for majolica have been inching upwards at auctions after years of stagnation. The first half of the late Joan Stacke Graham’s remarkable majolica collection was up for sale at Doyle’s in November. Prices were high although not near the level of the collection of Dr. Karmason in 2005 who’s collection was equally fine. 

Minton majolica Lindsay tray from the Stack Graham collection

The Majolica International Society continues to be active as a collector's resource through the Majolica Collectors Community Facebook Group that debuted last year. With 589 members as of this writing, it is a place to educate, share ideas, personal collection photos, and discuss topics of interest to both beginner and advanced collectors alike.

Our blog also started an Instagram account in March of 2021 to share majolica images daily through social media. 

Recent Instagram posts

Glazedconfusedblog’s most popular posts of 2021

If you are interested in following us, there is a link directly to the Instagram account elsewhere on this page.

2021 has been a hard and sad year for many of us. Here's hoping that 2022 brings you all nothing but joy.