Majolica in the Movies: The Tin Drum

The Tin Drum is one of the stranger films I have seen. Having seen it in the theater during its first run in 1979 I was completely unsettled by it. Having seen it again recently, I can’t say my experience has changed very much. A German production in the German language directed by Volker Schlöndorff, it is an adaptation of a Günter Grass novel. It was a big hit internationally on its release winning the Palm d’Ore at the Cannes Film Festival and an Academy Award for best Foreign Language film, though its subject matter caused widespread censorship both in and outside of the United States.

Briefly the film is supposed to be a black comedy, a fantastic tale which takes place in Danzig, Germany both before and during WW2. It follows the adventures of a little boy, Oskar, who is so appalled by the cruelty he sees in the rise of Nazi Germany that he willfully decides to physically stop growing at the age of three years old by throwing himself down some stairs. Oskar acts as a narrator throughout giving his pointed observations on what he sees around him. The title refers to a tin drum the boy receives as a toy that he plays whenever he is upset. 

In addition to developing an adult’s mind in this child’s body, he also has the ability to use his voice to shatter glass, a talent he uses to his advantage throughout the film.

Oskar forms attachments to various people throughout the film only to have them end horribly in one way or another. At one point he is living with a woman who is sleeping with a man who may or may not be Oskar’s father, a German officer. On the woman’s table is a Palissy charger on which she keeps a Nazi pin which she places on the officer’s uniform.

The use of the Palissy charger is never explained but I think is intended to revolt the viewer and equate the Nazi swastika to the creepy, crawly animals shown on the charger. It may also be a visual reference to a terrible image earlier in the film where a woman takes a hatchet to live eels. 

Oskar’s attachment to the woman and her daughter, like all those in the film, ends unpleasantly after which he moves on to another adventure. 

The film is filled with relentless cruelty, murder, rape and general ugliness throughout the length of its running time. It also places this boy into extremely inappropriate situations involving adults. I doubt the film would be made today.

It is considered a masterpiece of modern cinema in its critique of Nazi Germany and the cruelty of man. In spite of all that it’s not a film I would recommend to anyone but the most adventurous film enthusiast

To view the trailer in German go here.

Majolica in the Movies: Saltburn

What does one say about a movie as controversial as Saltburn? It has alternately been called repulsive, divisive, brilliant, perverse and a horror movie. What it is, is a movie that is more or less a black comedy—an editorial on class warfare as well as a movie about obsession, rejection, evil and greed lightly cloaked in a shimmering gown of gorgeous cinematography. One thing is certain—every frame is carefully arranged for maximum effectiveness. In fact, the beauty of the film’s look, the surroundings and of its actors is really something of a mask for the ugliness of the story underneath.

Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi in an early scene from Saltburn

A dinner party at Saltburn castle

Jacob Elordi as Felix Catton in Saltburn

Barry Keoghan as Oliver in Saltburn

Briefly, the story follows a shy middle class Oxford student, Oliver, as he develops an obsessive relationship with one of his wealthy classmates, Felix, and later with the boy’s family. The family lives in a castle called Saltburn and the young man is invited to stay for the summer with this family after the death of his father. Only problem is that things here are never what they seem it be on the surface.

The eccentric family includes Sir and Lady Catton, their son Felix and daughter Venetia; a cousin Farleigh also attends Oxford and lives with the Cattons full time as does an odd female friend of Lady Catton, Pamela.

The cast of Saltburn

Directed by Emerald Fennell it stars Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick and Jacob Elordi as the object of his obsession Felix Catton, Richard Grant as Sir Catton, Rosamond Pike as Lady Catton, and Cary Mulligan as family friend Pamela.

Saltburn castle

Oliver’s birthday party

So how, do you ask, does majolica have any connection to this beautiful, lurid tale? As you might expect the Saltburn estate is filled with antiques, one of which is described as a priceless majolica charger by the 15th century French ceramicist Bernard Palissy. The charger is only shown briefly from the side but the plate plays a part in the ultimate undoing of one of the residents of Saltburn.

Engraving of Bernard Palissy

Cousin Farleigh, played by Archie Madekwe, 

viewing the majolica Palissy charger

Oliver reading up on Palissy in the Saltburn estate catalog

To disclose any more would spoil the story for those who haven’t seen it but let me just say that the value of this rare plate, money and obsession in general are at the heart of much of the evil in this movie.

Aside from the disturbing nature of some aspects of the movie, full frontal nudity and adult situations make this story not exactly a family film. 

The movie is streaming now on Amazon Prime. To view the trailer go here.

Majolica Monkey Madness

If there is one perennial favorite animal among majolica collectors, it has to be the monkey.  Monkeys are everywhere in majolica form from egg cups to garden seats! Some time ago I wrote about Wedgwood’s majolica monkey wares but they weren’t the only company that loved monkeys. Minton, George Jones, Brownfield and many others devoted wares to monkey themes.

Monkey designs from the Wedgwood pattern books

Probably the most famous majolica monkey is the Minton monkey and coconut teapot. It seems that people who don’t know majolica from a hole in the wall have seen this teapot.

The teapot is so well known it was reissued in 1993 as a Minton reproduction.

Of course Minton made other monkeys as well.

Minton majolica monkey vase

Minton majolica monkey and cockerel teapot 

Minton monkey garden seat

Minton majolica female monkey

Minton majolica monkey musician

Minton majolica ink stand modeled after Edwin Landseer’s Brazilian Marmosets 

Minton majolica candlestick

The most famous of the George Jones monkeys is certainly those associated with the monkey handled tea set. In addition to the set there is also a larger pitcher in the same pattern.

George Jones majolica tea set

George Jones majolica monkey handled jug

George Jones majolica teapot

George Jones majolica marmalade

Wedgwood had an entire line of monkey themed wares.

Wedgwood majolica monkey compote

Wedgwood majolica monkey compote

Wedgwood majolica monkey teapot

Wedgwood Argenta majolica monkey dessert plate

Wedgwood majolica monkey dessert plate

Wedgwood majolica monkey dessert plate

Wedgwood majolica monkey charger

Wedgwood majolica monkey charger

Wedgwood majolica monkey dessert stand

Other English and European companies made monkey themed pieces as well.

Copeland Sloth and Mischief 

Copeland majolica hanging monkey

Holdcroft majolica monkey dish

Thomas Forester majolica squatting monkey jug

Forester majolica fat monkey jug

Monkey on coconut cigarette box/humidor, possibly for 

Whittman & Roth importers

Joseph Roth majolica monkey tea set

Whittman & Roth importers majolica wall pocket 

Whittman & Roth importers majolica wall pocket

Victoria Pottery Company majolica card tray

Royal Worcester majolica Sloth & Mischief

Wardle majolica monkey nut tray

Bretby majolica monkey card tray

Bretby majolica monkey umbrella stand

Bretby majolica monkey jardiniere

Brownfield majolica monkey and auk pitcher

Massier majolica elephant pitcher with monkey handle

Unattributed French or Belgian majolica monkey pitcher

Desvres majolica Pichet Le Singe "HOVA"

Saint Germaine majolica monkey pitcher

Unattributed monkey pitcher, possibly Shorter & Boulton

Desvres majolica monkey pitcher

Pöet-Laval majolica monkey pitcher

French majolica monkey pitcher

Burmantofts majolica monkey

Skey majolica Rustic Ware wall shelf with monkey

Monkey on drum humidor

Oakwood Pottery majolica monkey pitcher

Massier majolica jardiniere

Sarreguemines Darwin Monkey candlestick

Sarreguemines majolica monkey pitcher

Sarreguemines majolica monkey pitcher

Sarreguemines majolica monkey musician

Sarreguemines majolica monkey egg cup

Majolica monkey match striker

Nimy majolica monkey bank

Onnaing majolica bank

Orchies majolica climbing monkey jug

French majolica monkey and baby pitcher

Thomas Sergent majolica monkey chef

Sergent majolica hooded monkey monk

Thomas Sergent majolica monkey vase

Onnaing monkey and tiger jardiniere

Wasmuël majolica monkey pitcher

St. Clèment majolica monkey pitcher

French Palissy majolica monkey figure

Schiller & Son majolica monkey garden seat

German majolica toothpick

Austrian majolica monkey match stand

Austrian majolica monkey humidor

Austrian majolica monkey humidor

Austrian majolica monkey humidor

Continental majolica monkey humidor

Continental majolica monkey humidor

German majolica monkey decanter

Continental majolica monkey decanter

Francisco Gomez De Avelar Palissy majolica monkey teapot

Mafra Palissy majolica monkey teapot

Palissy monkey and snake teapot

Palissy majolica monkey teapot

José Cunha majolica monkey candlestick

Mafra, Caldas da Rainha humidor

José Cunha Palissy majolica monkey toothpick

Mafra Palissy Sloth & Mischief 

Palissy majolica hanging monkey

Continental majolica smoke stand marked HH

Palissy monkey wall pocket

Palissy proper pair monkey wall pockets

Jose Francisco de Sousa monkey wall pocket

Palissy monkey majolica wall pocket

Palissy majolica monkey urn

Monkey of all types remain among the most sought after pieces by collectors today.