The release of Christopher Nolan’s mammoth production of “The Odyssey” has inspired new interest in Greek mythology. Having grown up being told these tales as a child and later reading mythological Greek tales as a teenager, this is of particular interest to me. Neo-classicism was at its peak in the middle of the 19th century, hence mythological figures abound in the ceramics of the time. Majolica was no exception.
One of the finest examples of Greek mythology in majolica is Minton’s monumental Prometheus vase. Done in the Greek taste, there is an example at the Philadelphia Museum of Art decorated by Silas Rice in the ancient sgraffito style, the body covered with mythological figures
Minton majolica Prometheus urn
It is one of several example created by Minton with different types of decoration. For more information on the Prometheus vase go to my blog post here.
Mythological figures are everywhere in the majolica of other Victorian potteries . Satyrs and fauns are common themes. Drinking vessels and amphora styled vases are often decorated with Dionysus, (Bacchus), and Maenads. Dionysus is often displayed as a satyr in these vessels.
Minton majolica satyr jug
Minton majolica star ewer
Wedgwood majolica figure of a Bacchante
Minton majolica Dionysis ewer 9front0 Minton majolica Dionysis and nereid ewer (side
George Jones majolica faun
Rörstrand majolica satyr and griffin compote Wedgwood
Satyr majolica dessert stand
Wedgwood satyre wine ewer
Sarreguemines majolica faun vase
Schiller & Sohn Dionisio center
Royal Worcester majolica fauns and putti planter
Other gods and goddesses are also present: Nereids (mermaids) and Tritons; Hermes (Mercury); Eros (Cupid); griffins and assorted other mythological characters and creatures.
Minton majolica Flower Bearers.
Royal Worcester majolica nereid
Minton majolica Eros riding a vase
George Jones majolica Eros riding a dolphin
Wedgwood majolica triton sweetmeat
Unattributed tritons majolica master salt Eichwald majolica nereid and satyr centerMinton majolica triton centerpiece Wedgwood majolica triton water ewer Continental majolica nereids compote
Schiller majolica nereids vaseSarreguemines majolica triton vaseMinton tritons jardiniere
Unattributed majolica sardine box Continental nereid fish platter
George Jones majolica sphinx center Jones majolica sphinx candlestick
Brown-Westhead Moore sphinx garden seat
Gerber & Stephan majolica sphinx Royal Worcester majolica griffin.
Schiller & Sohn majolica griffen compote
Gerber & Sntephan majolica griffin
Wedgwood majolica Minerva's Helmet Unattributed majolica hippocampus master salts Wedgwood majolica hippocampus jugMinton cherub on hippocampus
Minton majolica plaque of Eros and Aphrodite
Minton majolica Hebe and the eagle
French Palissy Medusa vase
Minton majolica figure of Chloris, the goddess of summer
Copeland mythological scene urn
Copeland majolica mythological scene
Even the Americans got in on the fad with the Pandora series by the Phoenixville, Pennsylvania Etruscan Works.
Etruscan Majolica Pandora plate with Pandora and Hermes Etruscan Majolica Pandora series bowl with eros riding a panther
As for Christopher Nolan's movie, one can only hope that it will cause more people to read Homer’s original works,
The Iliad and
The Odyssey
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