Collecting 101

1.

History
(and a spelling lesson)

Italian maiolica—spelled with an "i" and not to be confused with the colorful Victorian pottery known as Majolica—is a product of the Italian Renaissance. Its name is descriptive of the pottery that has a white surface, created by adding tin oxide to the glaze. Tin-glazed pottery was invented in the Islamic world, where potters introduced the technique into Spain in the early 1400s, as at that time Spain was under Islamic rule. Lustre-decorated jars, made in Valencia, were brought into Italy by traders based on the island of Majorca, and from that time onwards, tin-glazed pottery in Italy has been known as maiolica.

By the start of the 16th century, when all forms of art flourished in Italy, maiolica was being made in towns and cities throughout Italy. Maiolica in particular was highly regarded and costly—the best potters worked under the patronage of wealthy families, and their finely-painted dishes were considered the equal of all other forms of Fine Art.

2.

Storytelling on a Plate

Among many places in Italy where maiolica was made, only a few centres stand out due to the excellence of their painters. These include Deruta, Faenza, Urbino and Castel Durante, where top artists treated their maiolica plates or dishes as if they were a canvas or a wood panel. Images were copied from the latest ‘old master’ prints or woodcuts, while some portraits must have been painted from life.

Although in theory, all maiolica dishes were functional and could have been used for serving food, the most elaborate pieces were far too costly to use—other than as decoration to show off their owner’s wealth and good taste. During a banquet it was usual to set up a display of maiolica dishes, as well as silver, on a sideboard known as a credenza. Sets of plates with istoriato decoration (story-telling) depicted different episodes from Classical mythology or stories from the Bible.   

A most interesting group of maiolica dishes was decorated with subjects known as Bella Donna or ‘Beautiful Women’. It’s likely that some of these were specially ordered by young men as presents to their paramours, as many are inscribed with a woman’s name followed by the word ‘Bella’ or ‘B.’ A specialty of Castel Durante or Deruta, some of the finest portrait dishes were richly coloured using lustre. More rarely, Deruta dishes show portraits of young men, with inscriptions relating to their enduring love.

3.

Gilding the Lily

Lustre decoration enhanced some spectacular pieces of early maiolica. Islamic potters first used lustre many centuries earlier and the secret processes reached Italy via Spain during the 15th century. Once other coloured decoration had been glazed and fired on a maiolica dish, lustre could then be added in a separate kiln firing involving great technical difficulty.

Renaissance potters perfected three colours of lustre- red (or ruby), gold, and a separate silvery-gold. At their best, the gold lustre dishes made at Deruta are magnificent achievements, especially when you consider they are now five hundred years old. The images used on Deruta dishes show the influence of great painters Perugino and Pinturicchio. As well as the Bella Donna portraits, subjects included Roman heads in fabulous helmets, and popular fables.

4.

On The Market

Early maiolica presents collectors with an opportunity to purchase original artwork from Renaissance Italy, at every price level. A surprising amount of maiolica has survived through the centuries, and as with any collectable, the value is determined by rarity and condition. Early display dishes, popularly known as chargers, can command hefty prices, and deservedly so.

There is no doubt that the 1500s was the Golden Age of maiolica and some of the finest and most valuable pieces date from the 1520s-1540s. After the start of the 17th century there was a gradual decline in the quality of detail and design. However, it is still possible to buy exciting pieces from the 17th century and the 18th century, and at affordable prices.

Maiolica's delicate tin glaze sits on top of soft pottery, and both layers chip easily. For this reason, maiolica is very prone to damage and most pieces have rim chips or fine cracks— indeed, the total absence of chips should rouse suspicions. Majolica with no visible damage at all needs to be treated with some suspicion, for the item might have been restored, or could even be fake. Minor chips and short cracks make little or no difference to the value of early maiolica, although it is always best to avoid seriously damaged specimens.

5.

Displaying Old-World Style Today

Maiolica was made to display, and it fits remarkably well within any home among traditional antiques. It is worth remembering that istoriato plates and other dishes were intended to be displayed openly on a credenza, though for safety today it is probably best to place such things safely in a display cabinet. Meanwhile, vases look wonderful on dark wood shelves, like the top of an oak dresser.

Because maiolica has been seriously collected for so long, clever copies and fakes are everywhere. Some of the best forgeries are up to 150 years old themselves and may have passed through several well-known hands. Collectors learn to examine every piece carefully for genuine signs of wear and tear, for many clever fakes have artificially induced signs of ageing. Nothing matches the reassurance of buying from an auction house such as Bonhams for genuine maiolica which is backed up by reliable, global expertise.

Register to bid in Home & Interiors before
9 July. For inquiries, please contact Codie.Lyons@bonhams.com.