Majolica in the Media: Antiques Roadshow UK

I love watching old episodes of Antiques Roadshow UK. As I have written before, I far prefer the UK version of Antiques Roadshow to the one made in the US mainly because the quality of antiques are of a higher caliber, and older than those shown in America. They also give more realistic evaluations, not pumping the value up for sensationalism the way the US version does.

As I was watching a show recorded at Barrington Court on May 17, 2015 (S37 E22), I was delighted to see a rare piece of Copeland majolica pop up. 

A woman brought in a piece of majolica she and her husband had purchased in 1973 on an installment plan. It cost them £39 10s.

The appraiser, Fergus Gambon, who is currently the director of British Ceramics and Glass at Bonhams UK (and the son of the late actor Sir Michael Gambon), found it unusual having never seen it before among the many pieces of majolica previously brought in for appraisals. He identified it as a piece of Copeland, a company he described in a dismissive manner the way only the British can, as a "second division" majolica manufacturer. (I will say, that the snobbery common on the UK version of Antiques Roadshow is the thing I like least about the program.)

Fergus Gambon

The owner had done some research and though she originally thought it was made for plover eggs she knew she was on the wrong track when she saw that plovers do not have a crest but another bird popular at the time did. It was a piece specifically made for holding lapwing eggs, which apparently were fashionable for Easter with Queen Victoria who liked hers served in aspic. She also mentioned that there were recipes for them in Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, where they are described thus: 

"Those [eggs] of land birds that are eaten, as the plover, lapwing, ruff, etc., are in general much esteemed."

But getting back to the appraisal...

Copeland majolica lapwing egg server

He pointed out the unusual mark on the base that included "copyright reserved" in addition to the impressed Copeland mark. He did not show the date code.

I will say that in spite of Copeland being “second division” he still liked it and gave it a value of £500-£600 in 2015 even with its repaired beak.

Of course, now lapwings are critically endangered probably due to all this lapwing egg gathering during the reign of Victoria so chicken or quail eggs would make a good substitute if you choose to use your lapwing egg holder next Easter.

Honestly, the things you can learn on Antiques Roadshow!

Ceramics that are Confused for Majolica but Aren’t Majolica

There is quite a bit of ignorance about the definition of Victorian majolica. This is actually quite natural. No one can know everything and a specialized collecting area like Victorian majolica is bound to confuse people. This post is an attempt to clarify some of these misconceptions to those who may be new to this particular collecting area. 

Mexican dripwire duck pitcher

For the purpose of this blog the term majolica is used to describe the lead-glazed pottery invented in England by Minton in 1851 and continued throughout Western Europe and the United States until roughly around 1920. It continued in Central Europe until the onset of WW2. Three examples of Victorian majolica can be seen directly below.

Forester majolica cockatoo basket

Adams & Bromley majolica cornbread tray

Massier majolica iris jardiniere

To make it simpler, let me just say upfront that any pottery marked “Italy,” "Japan,” “China” or “Mexico” is not Victorian majolica as none of these countries ever produced lead-glazed majolica pottery. Let me elaborate.

The pottery most commonly confused for majolica is maiolica. I have discussed the differences between maiolica and majolica before, as well as described how this confusion began. It’s really the fault of the inventor of Victorian majolica, Léon Arnoux and his employer Minton. The two forms were confused from the beginning and the confusion has persisted ever since. Although the two illustrations below are from 16th century Italy, this highly detailed, hand decorated tin-glazed pottery is still in production today throughout the world. The most obvious difference is that majolica has lead-based glazes whereas maiolica has tin-based glazes. Delft nor faïence are considered majolica either because they too have tin based glazes. For clarification on Deft please refer to my post on faïence below.

Castelli maiolica vase c.1530

Gubbio maiolica marriage dish c.1535

A type of pottery often confused for majolica and commonly found in the U.S. is Mexican Dripware. This is a specific product made in Oaxaca, Mexico for the tourist trade. It has a folksy, primitive look and can be attractive in a large grouping but it is not majolica.

Mexican dripware coffee pot

Mexican dripware swan pitcher

Mexican dripware jardiniere

Mexican dripware pitcher

The Japanese created an inexpensive pottery for export similar in look to majolica during the 20th century. These pieces are marked "Japan," "Occupied Japan" or "Made in Japan."

Hotta Yu Shoten Japanese basketweave lidded pitcher

Japanese biscuit jar

Japanese Banko shell teapot

Japanese export vase

Another pottery that is confused for majolica is faïence as mentioned at the top. Most commonly referred to as “quimper” in the United States it originated near Quimper Brittany, France by potter Jean-Baptiste Bousquet in the late 17th century but continues production to this day. The term, however, has become a generic one describing any tin-glazed pottery with a similar type of decoration. To add a bit of confusion though, the term faïence is sometimes erroneously used to describe any form of colorful pottery made in France. More confusing yet, the decoration technique is sometimes used by the same manufacturers who made majolica. Quimper has a naïve hand panted Breton folk art decoration that speaks for itself. Delft ware is a type of faïence with a different decoration inspiration originating in Northern Europe.

Quimper faïence platter

St. Clément faïence plate

Angoulême faïence wall vase

In the United States the Chesapeake Pottery of Baltimore used the term faïence to describe some of their lead-glazed majolica. This was probably done for marketing purposes. Imported ware was considered more desirable by American consumers, hence a piece with a European sounding name may sell better. 

Nothing is ever cut and dry in the antique pottery world!

Mark for the Chesapeake Pottery's Haynes Avalon Faience majolica line

Chesapeake Pottery advertising 

It should go without saying that the ceramic reproductions made today that imitate majolica such as these frog pieces from Southern Asia are not majolica but should be considered majolica-style pottery. Victorian majolica was never made in Asia. A search through this blog on reproductions can be helpful to the novice in identifying these.

Navigating pottery attribution can be a hazardous one even for professionals as I have written on this blog but with a little experience anyone can master it... or at least come close!

Majolica Mothers!

Mother’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year for card manufacturers, candy dealers and florists. In fact for florists it is by far their busiest day of the year. Although the celebration of mother figures in springtime goes back as far as ancient Greece with the celebration of the mother of the Olympians, Rhea, Mother’s Day is a relatively new national holiday in the U.S., having been first proposed in 1908.

Greek pottery fragment of Rhea riding a lion

Its origins here go back to the 19th century. The most commonly accepted theory is that it begins with the U.S. Civil War. Ann Jarvis had the idea to bring together the mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers to find a solution to the war. In 1868 she established a Mother’s Friendship Day to unify the polarized North and South.

Ann Jarvis

Julia Ward Howe

Two years later Julia Ward Howe carried the idea further by issuing a Mother’s Day Proclamation for peace every June beginning in 1870. The intention was similar to Jarvis', for the mothers of the world to gather together to find a way of avoiding future wars, but like Jarvis's Friendship Day the idea never really took off.

Anna Jarvis

After Ann Jarvis’ death, her daughter Anna decided to continue her work by petitioning for a National Mother’s Day to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Though first rejected in 1908 by congress, her idea soon caught on with individual states. Eventually President Woodrow Wilson declared a National Mother’s Day holiday in May of 1914.

Mothers shown in majolica are plentiful. One of the most charming is Minton's nesting bird feeding her young, but mother birds both nesting and with their young is a popular theme across the European continent. Here are some examples.

Minton majolica nesting bird box

George Jones majolica double ink well

Minton nesting bird box

Minton nesting bird tile

Nesting bird tea kettle

Majolica nesting bird teapot

Holdcroft majolica nesting bird teapot and stand

Holdcroft majolica nesting bird jardiniere

English bird’s nest jug

Nimy copy of the English jug directly above

Majolica Shorter & Boulton nesting birds jug. 

Copied by Arsenal Pottery

George Jones majolica Christmas charger

Brownfield majolica duck terrine 

Nesting chicken terrine

Continental majolica egg terrine

Dreyfus chicken with chick

Massier majolica chicken familyi

Choisy-le-Roi chicken with chicks

Choisy-le-Roi chicken with chick

Dreyfus chicken terrine

Brown-Westhead Moore majolica jardiniere

George Jones full nest terrine

Dreyfus majolica chicken terrine with egg cups

Wedgwood majolica transferware plate

Wedgwood majolica transferware plate

Dreyfus majolica swan with chick egg cups

Continental majolica chicken plate

Choisy-le-Roi majolica chicken plate

Majolica Choisy-le-Roi chicken plate

Of course there are depictions of other types of animals with their offspring as well.

Onnaing majolica jardiniere with lion family 

Continental majolica plate with cat and kittens

Continental majolica cat with kitten plate

Austrian majolica sow humidor with piglets

George Jones majolica “Empty Nest” game terrine

Choisy-le-Roi majolica rabbit plate with bunnies

Choisy-le-Roi majolica rabbit plate with bunnies

There are also images of the two most famous human mothers of them all–Eve by Mintons and Jesus's mother Mary by Griffen, Smith & Company.

Majolica Eve by Mintons

Etruscan Majolica holy water font base with Virgin Mary

Happy Mother's Day to all those who celebrate!