A look at the design, market and legacy of Victorian pottery

Sunday, May 15, 2022

Majolica Mania at the Walters Art Museum

I recently had the good fortune to take a trip to the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore to take in their installation of the traveling Majolica Mania exhibit, a 350 piece traveling show that is making its second stop in the US. I’ve written about the show before when it first opened at the Bard Graduate Center, but I must admit that seeing it at the Walters was an entirely different experience.

Walters Art Museum main entrance

The Walters Art Museum is comprised of three attached historical buildings in the heart of Baltimore’s downtown. Just blocks from the famous Harbor tourist district, the the majority of the Majolica Mania exhibit is installed in the Hackerman House, a 19th century mansion adjoining the Walters.

Hackerman House of the Walters Art Museum

Originally built around 1848 for Dr. John Thomas Hanson in the Federalist style, the building was extensively remodeled in 1892 by Francis Jencks, who updated the building in the Victorian Italian Renaissance style for his own use. After his death, the building underwent a succession of owners until it was acquired in 1990 by the Walters Art Museum who converted it for gallery use.

Hackerman House staircase looking up to the Tiffany dome window

Upon first entrance into the Walters you are greeted by a silhouette of Minton’s majolica peacock. 


These silhouettes which are placed around the museum, act as a sort of marker allowing you to find your way through the show. The first ceramic piece you encounter at the entrance is a monumental George Jones majolica calla lily pedestal. The extraordinary detail in the piece is astonishing!

George Jones calla lily pedestal



From the front entrance one needs to travel through a succession of corridors and elevators to reach the main installation of the exhibit in Hackerman House. You enter through a dark corridor with a display of various pieces of majolica in a large case.


Etruscan Majolica corn teapot

Wedgwood majolica dragon handled teapot

Wardle majolica hand vase

Holdcroft majolica fish jug

George Jones majolica chinoise teapot

Royal Worcester shell and lizard vase

Brownfield fish and waves teapot

George Jones majolica sparrow nest vase

Minton monkey and coconut teapot


Forester majolica elephant teapot

This brings you into a sunlit inside patio where one encounters a large majolica eagle by Brown-Westhead Moore in front of a cobalt Minton Fountain flanked on either side by Minton heron umbrella stands.

T.C. Brown-Westhead Moore eagle jardiniere




Minton majolica fountain

Minton majolica umbrella/cane stand

Minton majolica umbrella/cane stand

Minton majolica umbrella/cane stand

Minton majolica cane/umbrella stand

You then see a large Majolica Mania sign with a Minton malachite compote in the center.


Minton majolica malachite compote
From here you pass a wall with a large photo of an interior from H. Victor Newcomb's New York home conservatory with some conservatory majolica in front of the photo.

H. Victor Newcomb house on Fifth Ave. in New York

Newcomb conservatory

Image of the conservatory from the Newcomb House 
with conservatory majolica 

Wedgwood Majolica Rubens garden seat

From there you enter a large room with a pair of monumental majolica jardinieres on pedestals. Numerous other pieces of majolica surround the room. In one corner is a display of garden seats. The Minton peacock stands in the center.



Minton jardiniere and pedestal

Detail from the Minton jardiniere


Garden seat grouping

Minton majolica monkey garden seat

Brown-Westhead Moore Egyptian garden seat

Adams & Bromley majolica garden seat

Jones majolica pond lily garden seat

Minton majolica cockatoo 

Minton chinoiserie jardiniere

Minton majolica peacock


In another corner is a small island with an Aesthetic Movement Fielding Fan tea set.

Fielding majolica Fan tea set

There is a large mantel there as well with two heavily decorated Minton figural handled vases with different designs on either side of a Wedgwood clock supported by two mermaids.


Minton figural handled vase with Theology and Justice 
painted in enamels on the body

Minton majolica Theology & Justice after Raphael

Minton majolica Poetry & Philosophy after Raphael

Wedgwood majolica mermaid clock

To the side is a large entrance way with a winding staircase. At the base is a Wedgwood swan covered urn.


Wedgwood majolica swan urn

There is also a small tribute to Herbert Minton and Colin Minton Campbell and a photo of Léon Arnoux.

Hugues Protât parian sculpture of Herbert Minton (left). 
Figure of Colin Minton Campbell, after a bronze statue by Sir Thomas Brock (right)

Colin Minton Campbell

From here you proceed into another large room showing various aspects of majolica production. There are drawings from the Minton pattern books with the final production pieces in front. There is also a display including an original mold from the Etruscan Works with the resulting majolica Napkin plate, a model of a Minton kiln, Holdcroft crane plates in various colors and a plate with glaze samples.

Minton majolica snake handled vase 
with production drawings

Drawing from the Minton pattern books

Minton majolica snake handled vase, 
decoration attributed to Thomas Kirby

Minton ewer and stand for the Crystal Palace 
Art Union with production drawings

Minton ewer production drawing


Minton majolica ewer and stand


Minton majolica charger


Minton vulture teaapot by Henry Hope Crealock

Minton vulture and snake teapot

Minton Pugin design dessert plate

Putin dessert plate concept drawing from the Minton pattern books

Minton majolica Pugin plate

Etruscan Napkin plate mold, Holdcroft plates in several color ways, 
a glaze formula book from Minton and an experimental plate with various glaze samples.

Model of Minton patent downdraft oven designed by Léon Arnoux 
that revolutionized Minton's production
Holdcroft majolica crane plate

Trial plate for a range of majolica glazes

In the center of the room is a large Minton tiered jardiniere on loan from the Potteries Museum. 

Minton majolica jardiniere by Pierre-Émileb Jeannest

On the side is a mantel with three George Jones compotes, unfortunately dwarfed by their placement. 

George Jones majolica Africa center

George Jones majolica Africa center

George Jones majolica Europe center

George Jones majolica Europe center

One proceeds to a small gallery that highlights the work of various potteries, among them Wedgwood, Brown-Westhead Moore, Forester, Adams & Bromley, Shorter & Boulton, Wardle, Royal Worcester, Brownfield, Copeland and Holdcroft.

From left, the majolica of Wardle, Brown-Westhead Moore,
 Adams & Bromley, Forester and Shorter & Boulton

Wardle majolica Chrysanthemum teapot

Brown-Westhead Moore swan jug

Brown-Westhead Moore majolica dog

Shorter & Boulton cockatoo/owl pitcher

Royal Worcester, Adams & Bromley and Forster majolica

Royal Worcester monkey on turtleback vase

Adams & Bromley face teapot

Forester majolica pug dog

Royal Worcester majolica elephant

From left, the majolica of Holdcroft, Brownfield, and Copeland

Holdcroft majolica umbrella stand

Holdcroft majolica umbrella stand

Brownfield majolica wall pocket

Brownfield monkey and auk pitcher

Copeland Sloth and Mischief

Copeland majolica center

Wedgwood majolica display case

Wedgwood majolica figural steer

Wedgwood majolica case

Wedgwood majolica figure of a Bacchante

Wedgwood majolica Minerva’s helmet jug

Wedgwood majolica Ocean/Shells platter

Wedgwood majolica swan jug

Wedgwood majolica Egyptian desk stand 

The next section dramatically opens with the monumental Minton Prometheus vase framed by Hackerman House's elegant Federal columns.

Minton majolica Prometheus vase

Minton majolica Prometheus vase

Minton majolica Prometheus Vase
For a brief audio introduction from the BGC to the Prometheus Vase go here

The next element in the exhibit deals with the use of majolica in the home. In a darkened room, a case in the wall shows a selection of cheese bells from Minton, George Jones, Copeland, Wedgwood and the Etruscan Works as well as a Minton cat jug and Wedgwood butter dish.

From left to right, Minton cat jug, Copeland primrose cheese bell, George Jones 
apple blossom cheese, George Jones bee skep cheese,Wedgwood Luther cheese, 
Minton bee hive cheese, Etruscan Lily cheese and Wedgwood butter dish

Minton majolica cat pitcher

George Jones majolica bee skep cheese keeper

Wedgwood majolica Luther cheese bell

Copeland primrose cheese bell

Against one wall is a group of oyster plates from various manufacturers.

Majolica oyster plates, clockwise from top left, Minton, Wedgwood, 
George Jones, Fielding, Etruscan Works, Samuel Lear 
and in the center plate attributed to Adams & Bromley

Minton majolica oyster plate

Etruscan Majolica oyster plate

Wedgwood Argenta Ocean oyster plate

Samuel Lear Sunflower oyster plate

George Jones majolica Boteler oyster plate

Oyster plate attributed to Adams & Bromley

Along one side, on a table in front of dramatic beveled windows are various serving pieces from English and American manufacturers.




Etruscan Majolica Daisy sauce dish

Minton majolica asparagus server

Wedgwood majolica seal platter

Christopher Dresser designed Wedgwood bowl

Brown-Westhead Moore seafood terrine

Minton majolica four-tier oyster server

Minton majolica centerpiece

Minton majolica lobster terrine

Holdcroft majolica water cooler

Holdcroft water cooler for Slack and Brownlow 
For a brief audio discussion from the BGC of the water cooler go here.

Around the room are various decorative and utilitarian serving items by George Jones. Among them: a Jones full nest game dish; a Jones Punch bowl; Jones Egyptian vase; and Jones Marie strawberry server. 


George Jones majolica Marie strawberry server

Jones 'full nest" game dish

George Jones majolica Egyptian sphinx vase

George Jones majolica Punch bowl

There is an example of the Jones drum tea service on an adjacent table.

George Jones majolica drum tea set


In the center of the room is an island with various majolica pieces: a Holdcroft pug dog; Wedgwood majolica peacock server, Minton cigar holder; Etruscan Shell humidor; Jones tortoise cuspidor; George Jones spoon warmer; Wedgwood Fly match box, and Brown-Westhead Moore boar game terrine.
Holdcroft majolica pug dog

Wedgwood majolica peacock server

Wedgwood majolica fly matchbox 

Brown-Westhead Moore boar game terrine

Brown-Westhead Moore boar game terrine


George Jones majolica tortoise cuspidor

Minton majolica cigar holder
George Jones majolica spoon warmer

Etruscan Majolica Shell humidor

There is also a monumental Minton game terrine.

Minton majolica game terrine 

In the next space is the mammoth pottery workers memorial commissioned by the Bard from artist Walter McConnell, “A Requiem in White”

Memorial to the pottery workers commissioned for the 
show, Walter McConnell’s A Requiem in White

A Requiem in White detail

A Requiem in White detail

We then proceed to the area of the show devoted to American majolica production. Against one wall is a case devoted to the Eureka Pottery of Trenton New Jersey. Many of these designs were copies from Shorter & Boulton.

Eureka majolica

Fan ice cream dish attributed to Eureka Pottery

Eureka majolica plate
Eureka majolica vase

Fan ice cream tray attributed to Eureka

There are cases devoted to Etruscan Majolica butter pats and the Etruscan Cauliflower, Bamboo and Shell patterns.

Etruscan Majolica butter pats, Sunflower syrup  and Celery vase


Etruscan Majolica Shell wares

Etruscan Majolica Shell cake plate

Etruscan Majolica Cauliflower and Bamboo

Etruscan Majolica Cauliflower teapot

Etruscan Majolica production stamp

In succeeding rooms cases are devoted to other American majolica manufacturers—Arsenal, Carr, Bennett, Haynes & Co.’s Chesapeake Pottery, Peekskill Pottery, and Morley.


Monumental Mayer majolica vase 
from the Arsenal Pottery

Arsenal Pottery majolica cuspidor

Arsenal Pottery majolica pitcher

Arsenal majolica shell pitcher

Haynes Avalon majolica lamp, plate and jar

Hayes Avalon majolica gas lamp

D. F. Haynes & Co., Chesapeake Pottery, 
covered jar for Spaulding & Merrick Co.

Haynes majolica "Oak” Calvert ware clock

Monumental Bennett fern stand created for 
the Bennett display at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago

Monumental Bennett griffen fern stand

James Carr majolica vase

Carr majolica vase

James Carr pedestal of Washington Crossing 
the Delaware from the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition

James Carr pedestal of Washington Crossing 
the Delaware

Carr’s exhibit from the 1876 Exposition 
with examples of the Washington pedestal

Overall view showing American majolica. From left to right: Mayer exhibition 
vase; Tenuous majolica case; Morley majolica case

Morley majolica owl

Morley majolica compote

Morley majolica fish plate

Tenuous Majolica from the Peekskill Pottery

Tenuous majolica calla lily teapot

Tenuous majolica platter

There is also a large case comparing American majolica ware to its British majolica inspiration.


Wardle President Garfield memorial jug

Copeland majolica eagle vase

Adams & Bromley majolica corn platter

Tenuous Majolica corn platter

Etruscan Majolica dolphin compote

Royal Worcester majolica dolphin compote

Etruscan Majolica Baseball pitcher

Wedgwood majolica cricket jug

Arsenal majolica St. Louis plate

Wedgwood St. Louis dessert stand

George Jones majolica fence butter dish

Etruscan Majolica cow butter dish

Wedgwood majolica strawberry server

Etruscan Works strawberry server

The show winds down with items relating to the Royal Dairy. A large image of the St. George fountain is next to one of the heron fountains used in both the dairy and the fountain design. The comparison shows the monumental size of the lost 36 ft. fountain.

Design for the Royal Dairy

John Thomas, Nymph

Minton figure of Nymph by John Thomas 
copied from one at the Royal Dairy

Chromolithograph of the Minton St. George fountain 
at the 1862 Crystal Palace Exhibition

Minton heron fountain

Minton heron fountain

Minton heron fountain

The final piece in the show is the Queen Victoria Charger decorated by Thomas Kirby.

Minton Queen Victoria Charger by Thomas Kirby

Minton Queen Victoria Charger by Thomas Kirby. 
For a brief audio discussion from the BGC on the Queen Victoria Charger go here

There are also reading rooms at the Walters, video presentations throughout the show, and a space where children can express their own ceramic creations, making it a family welcoming experience. Of course, there is also a gift shop where one can purchase items related to the show.

Brochure of show highlights available at gift shop

The staff at the Walters were exceptionally well informed on the show and very accommodating to the visitors. One of the volunteers was kind enough to lead my group through the various rooms and corridors of the show. I really can't speak more highly of their conscientious attention to the guests. 

The Walters Art Museum has received a bequest of 500 pieces of majolica from Philip and Deborah English to be included in their permanent collection. Many of these pieces are shown here and highlight the show.

This is the show's last stop in the United States. The show closes in August and travels across the Atlantic for display at the Potteries Museum at Stoke-on-Trent.

The Potteries Museum

For visitor information on the Walters and the show go to the Walters website.


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