Majolica vs. Decorated Earthenware

Etruscan Venicine decorated earthenware cheese bell

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion between Victorian majolica and its close cousin decorated earthenware. On an average of at least once a week a scan of upcoming auction listings will identify a piece of decorated earthenware as majolica. So then, what’s the difference? It’s actually quite simple but you need to have a bit of understanding of the majolica manufacturing process to clarify it.

First of all, before I describe the manufacturing process, let me get one thing clear. I would like to eliminate the term ALBINO from the conversation entirely though it is nearly impossible because it is used pervasively. It is an unfortunate, offensive term that was coined in the early days of antique majolica classification. I have tried to explain this before but the term has taken hold and is used particularly by antique dealers to justify charging majolica level prices on items that are not majolica. This so-called “albino” majolica is simply white glazed earthenware. It uses an opaque white lead glaze to completely cover a piece of biscuit before it is fired. That’s all there is to it.

Etruscan Works Ivory Ware white earthenware jardiniere 

Victorian majolica is made from a piece of fired biscuit that is covered with an opaque white glaze, then decorated by hand in various colored glazes. It is then fired a second time (and sometimes even a third time) to melt the glaze and cause it to adhere to the biscuit body. This gives the glaze a hard, brittle, transparent quality similar to glass. Decorated earthenware skips the step where the body is covered with various colored glazes. In place of this, the white, fired, glazed piece is covered with enamels over the glaze. In some situations the enameled piece may be fired again at a much lower temperature to set the enamels but this is not always the case. The lack of the bonding of the color on the decorated piece of earthenware gives the color on the piece a vulnerability to damage that majolica does not have because in majolica the color is fused to the body, not applied over it.

Etruscan Majolica jardiniere

When looking at decorated earthenware rather than majolica it is common to see areas where use and wear have caused the enamels to flake off. This doesn’t happen with majolica glazed pieces. Also, the color of  enamel glazed pieces have no transparency to the color. It is opaque and often matte in finish. A good example is shown below in two examples from my previous post on “albino” majolica. 

George Jones decorated earthenware Primrose cheese bell.

George Jones majolica Primrose cheese bell.

The decorated earthenware cheese bell on top is beautifully decorated in applied enamels, yet there are areas where the enamel has flaked off from use. The cheese bell below it is majolica. There is no flaking of the color because it is part of the body of the piece.

The cheese bell at the beginning of this post is from the Etruscan Works Venecine line of decorated earthenware. Compare it to the Etruscan Majolica cheese bell below. They are both colorful but there is a significant difference in the look of the color on the two pieces.

Etruscan Majolica Fern cheese dome

The Venicine line from the Etruscan Works is frequently categorized as "Albino" majolica during sales. It is lovely but it is not majolica. It is decorated earthenware.

This Minton piece is being sold as “Albino” majolica. All it has in common

 with majolica is the earthenware body.

Minton majolica plaque

Other decorated earthenware is also identified as "Albino" majolica but it is not majolica because it does not have colored glaze fused to the body. It is applied over the glazed body. Another example is the two George Jones pitchers shown below.

George Jones enamel decorated earthenware Basket Jug

George Jones majolica Basket Jug

There are times when both processes will be combined on a single piece as in some continental majolica like the piece below in which the face and hands of the figure are painted in enamels while the rest of the piece is covered in majolica glazes. Note the flaking of the color on the figure’s face. This would still be considered majolica because of the presence of majolica glaze on the largest part of the body.

Continental majolica pin tray

I suppose there will always be confusion between the two from people who are not experienced or educated in the production of Victorian pottery but the point of this blog is education through information so the best we can hope for is reducing the confusion as best we can.

Majolica Spotlight: George Jones Majolica Pitchers

George Jones majolica Monkey Handled Cream Jug

There is no denying the popularity of George Jones majolica. My blog posts on George Jones consistently receive the highest hits of all the posts I do. That made me think that a Majolica Spotlight on their glorious pitchers would be of general interest to my readers. 

In doing research on these pitchers I was often frustrated by the incomplete George Jones majolica pattern books available to us today. Unfortunately we have no other means of knowing how many different pitchers were made nor how the pitchers were identified within the factory nor the number of sizes they were made in. Because of this, when a pattern name is not available I'll identify the pattern by the pattern number. 

They also repeated some names in-house for different patterns which makes things more difficult. In the illustration below from the pattern books, two pairs of pitchers share the same name. Two pitchers, the one in the top right and the one directly below it share the name Foliage Jug. At the bottom, the pitcher on the right corner and the one on the left corner share the name Basket Jug.

I’m sorry to say there are some pitchers which we know little or nothing about aside from being made by the company. I will include them also. I am not including small creamers that were integral components to other pieces such as strawberry servers.

Registered pitcher designs from the George Jones pattern book

I should also mention that different color variations of the same pitcher were occasionally given different pattern numbers. This may be because of differences in the mold or some other unknown reason; there's really no way to know for sure. The pattern numbers given refer to the examples shown, when available.

Of all the pitchers George Jones made, I would guess that his Chestnut pattern pitcher, pattern 1809, is likely one of the most sought after. It regularly brings high auction prices and is very much in demand among enthusiasts. Maybe it’s the rarity or maybe it’s the spray of chestnut flowers on the side. Whatever it is, collectors love it! Who can blame them? It’s a lovely design. Although the GJ Catalog listing on this jug is incomplete, I have been able to confirm that there are at least four sizes: 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz. and 30 oz.. Of these four there are three different variations in design. The largest of these was designed with a small attached foot. In my experience this is seen most frequently in large jugs made as part of a dresser jug and wash bowl set though I have never seen a washbowl in this pattern. The next size came in two distinct variations: one has a larger attached footed base and the other a twig footed base. The smaller sizes both have the larger attached footed base. The pattern number is 1809.

George Jones majolica large Chestnut Jug

George Jones majolica attached foot Chestnut Jug

George Jones majolica twig footed Chestnut Jug

Another highly coveted design is the Jones Sea and Sky Jug, pattern 5246. Very rarely seen on the collector's market, this pitcher was made in four sizes: 6 oz.; 12 oz.; 24 oz.; and 30 oz. These pitchers are wonderful in their detail.

George Jones majolica Sea and Sky Jug

One jug that is commonly available as well as one of my personal favorites is the Wild Rose Jug, pattern 3449. I did a Majolica Showcase on this design here. I have seen this pitcher in two variations, a conventional jug and a smaller creamer. Wild Rose too was made in 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz., and 30 oz. sizes. 

George Jones Wild Rose cream pitcher

George Jones majolica Wild RoseJug

A pitcher similar in shape to the Chestnut Jug is the Jones Lotus Jug, pattern 1800. It is a design of lotus flowers, leaves and cattails against a barrel type ground. This pitcher came in four sizes: 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz., and 30 oz.

George Jones majolica Lotus Jug

A Jones pitcher that is sometimes sold as part of the Hops beer set is the Barrel Jug, pattern 1846. Made in four sizes–6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz. and 30 oz.–the Hops beer set, consists of the 24 oz. or 30 oz. Barrel Jug, two mugs and a trefoil tray.

George Jones majolica Barrel Jug

A Jones pitcher that is often overlooked because of it’s plain design is the Mottled Jug, Rope Handle, pattern design 2777 which came in four sizes: 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz. and 30 oz.

GJ majolica Mottled Jug, Rope Handle

Another George Jones pitcher that is often overlooked is the Basket Jug, pattern 2792. It also came in four sizes, 6 oz, 12 oz., 24 oz. and 30 oz.

George Jones majolica Basket Jug

George Jones majolica Basket Jug with pewter lid

A terrific compliment to the Monkey handled tea set, the Monkey Handled Jug, number 3458, is only listed in one size. The compliment cream jug to the Monkey Handled Teapot, is listed as part of the tea set, number 3450.

George Jones majolica Monkey Handled Jug

One of the most beautiful pitchers made by the company is the Iris Jug, pattern number 2509. The pattern books don’t list the number of sizes in which it was made but most likely it came in the same four sizes as most of the other pitchers.

George Jones majolica Iris Jug

Another strikingly beautiful pitcher is the Flowered Jug, pattern 3439, generally known among collectors as the orchid pitcher. It was made in four sizes, 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz. and 30 oz.

George Jones majolica Flowered Jug

One of the most commonly found GJ pitchers is the Foliage Jug, pattern numbers 1806, 3346 and 3439. It came in at least four sizes and possibly more.

George Jones majolica Foliage Jug

A lovely elegant pitcher with lilies, the Calla Lily Jug, number 5215, came in at least four sizes.

Jones majolica Calla Lily Jug

GJ Calla Lily Jug with pewter lid

The Jones Stork Jug, number 3409 came in at least two sizes both with and without a pewter lid.

George Jones majolica Stork Jug

A Christmas favorite is the Holly Mask Jug, number 2776C, sometimes called the Father Christmas pitcher. This pitcher came in at least three, and possibly four sizes, both with and without pewter lid.

George Jones majolica Holly Mask Jug

A great favorite among collectors is the Hunting Claret or Beer Jug, pattern number 3228, which was sold both with and without a cover.

GJ Hunting Claret or Beer Jug with cover

GJ Hunting Claret or Beer Jug

A marvelous expression of nature, the Bird’s Nest Jug with Bird Handle, pattern number 3440, has always been Jones nature design at its finest. It was made in four sizes, 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz. and 30 oz.

Jones majolica Bird’s Nest Jug with Bird Handle without cover

A sweet and very popular design with tiny frogs and a flowering chestnut tree, the Rustic Jug, number 3457, came in four sizes: 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz., and 30 oz.

George Jones majolica Rustic Jug

Clearly inspired by the influence of Japanese art, the elegant Bamboo Jug, number 3256 came in four sizes 6 oz, 12 oz, 24 oz and 30 oz.

Jones majolica Bamboo Jug

The simple Basket Jug, number 3292, came in at least two sizes, and probably more.

George Jones majolica Basket Jug

A matching piece to the Apple Blossom tea set and cheese bells, the Apple Blossom Jug, came in five sizes 6oz, 12 oz. 24 oz., 30 oz, and 36 oz; pattern number 3303.

George Jones majolica Apple Blossom Jug

This registered Jones pitcher, the Basket Jug, was heavily copied by a contemporary pottery, possibly Hawley & Co., who had a contract with an American department store to copy English majolica patterns and furnish them at a cheaper price. Pattern 3578, it was made in three sizes: 12 oz., 24 oz., and 30 oz.

George Jones majolica Basket Jug

An unusual jug for George Jones, the Bacchanalian Jug, or  The Cupid Dance Jug, number 5252B, relies on classical design for its inspiration. It was made in four sizes: 6 oz., 12 oz., 24 oz., and 30 oz.

George Jones majolica Bacchanalian Jug

A hard to find Jones pitcher, the Foliage Jug, number 3346 is only listed in the pattern book as having one size although other sizes are certainly possible.

George Jones majolica Foliage Jug

The pitchers below by George Jones we have little or no information about.

GJ majolica sunflower jug, number 5262 (?)

George Jones majolica jug Judge, pattern number 1910 (?)

GJ pitcher sometimes referred to as the Hawthorn jug, 

made in multiple sizes. Pattern number 3374.

George Jones majolica apple blossom jug, 

similar to the monkey handled jug

GJ bird with ivy jug, pattern 5201 (?)

George Jones majolica pineapple creamer

George Jones crane and swallow jug, number 5241

I suspect there are other patterns I have not seen but should they surface I will update this post. This should give you a good idea of the large range of pitchers made by the company. One thing is certain—they are all beautiful.