Majolica Classics: Wedgwood Majolica Mat Bread Tray

For us, one of the most interesting things about majolica is how the glazing treatment of a piece can wildly affect its character.

Such is the case with the Wedgwood Mat bread tray. One of the most recognizable of majolica pieces, the napkin platter has consistently been popular among collectors in the 30 years we have been buying majolica.
We have owned this piece in three different color combinations and have seen it in three other combinations as well. We believe it was originally designed as a full color piece with a yellow ground and turquoise and grey napkin. It was later adapted to the Argenta color ways. In between there are a number of other treatments as well, quite successful on their own: a cobalt ground with a white and turquoise napkin; a cobalt ground with a white or yellow napkin; and a turquoise or brown ground with a white napkin. 

Each of these color combinations has it's own unique character. For us the original with the yellow ground is the most joyous and rambunctious of the group. It is loud and garish, calling attention to itself regardless of anything that may be around it. Woe be to the other platters on a dinner table vying for attention around this one.

The one with the cobalt ground and white and turquoise napkin is probably the most elegant of the glazing treatments. The strong contrast of the cobalt ground against the subdued napkin colors makes for a strong but beautiful statement that would highlight whatever the owner decided to serve on it.

Those with the white or yellow napkin and cobalt or turquoise ground are the most subdued of the group, all simple, beautiful backdrops to the food without calling attention to themselves.

The largely duotone Argenta version is garish in its own way with its busy taupe and white checkerboard calling attention to itself while bringing out the abstract texture of the napkin in a way that none of the others do. The yellow and pink highlights bring a studied sophistication in toning down the design so typical of the Argenta ware.

Wedgwood catalog page showing the Mat tray

Each of these, as different as they are, have their admirers. Any one would make a beautiful centerpiece to a plate collection.

Majolica Napkin Plates

The napkin plate seems to be another of those peculiarly unique Victorian conceits. Made in a number of different bodies, napkin plates flourished in majolica, no doubt because the level of realism majolica offered. Popular in both Europe and the United States, most of the major potteries made some version of it.
For those unfamiliar with the design, a napkin plate tries to imitate the look of a napkin laid on top of a china or basket weave plate. The plate is always visible to some degree with the sole exception of the napkin designs made by Sarreguemines. These are designed to look like plates inside folded napkins.

In Great Britain, George Jones led the way with a number of different designs. Their Strawberry Server and Horse Chestnut designs are particularly well known, having been made in prodigious quantities. While white napkins are the most common on these designs I have also seen them in turquoise, cobalt and pink.

George Jones majolica strawberry server

GJ majolica chestnut plate

Jones majolica chestnut plate

George Jones majolica chestnut plate

Minton made several napkin plates.

Minton majolica individual strawberry server plate

Minton majolica individual strawberry server plate

Wedgwood's napkin plate is particularly attractive with its checkered napkin.

Wedgwood majolica Mat plate

Wedgwood majolica Mat plate

This tazza, believed to be by Fielding, is also a napkin plate.

In the United States both the Etruscan Works and Morley Offered napkin plates...

GSH majolica napkin plate

Morley majolica napkin plate

...while on the continent, a number of companies embraced the form.

Wasmuël napkin plate souvenir from 1889 Paris Exposition

Choisy-le-Roi majolica asparagus cradle

Villeroy & Boch majolica napkin plate

Villeroy & Boch majolica napkin platter

Wasmuël napkin strawberry server

Wasmuël majolica napkin plate

Sarreguemines napkin plates

Sarreguemines majolica egg terrine

Sarreguemines majolica napkin platter

Sarreguemines majolica asparagus terrine

Sarreguemines majolica asparagus server

Sarreguemines majolica oyster basket

The egg basket  and box directly above are part of the series I mentioned at the start of this post, a large series made by Sarreguemines that uses folded napkins as a basis for containers and platters. It is the idea of the napkin plate taken to its logical conclusion: a napkin by itself as a plate. You really can't take this idea any further than that!