MAJOLICA DEFINITION

What IS majolica? Or is it maiolica? What’s the difference?

Start here. Which is the odd one out?

You spotted it. The dish with chicks looks different in style. This could help us with our majolica definition.

 The glazes look a little different too.

Shiny runny colours versus strokes which appear painted on with a brush.

Could this indicate a difference in manufacture? This might also help us with our majolica definition.

Now we are looking at plates only.

Can you still see a difference in style? Sure you can.

One group is kinda Italian. The other group is kinda naturalistic.

There is also a difference in how they are made but we’ll come to that shortly. Let’s press on with style.

Difference in Style

Here’s more of that Italian looking stuff. Nothing naturalistic here. This is ‘Italian maiolica’. Earthenware with opaque white glaze and painted decoration in the Renaissance style. For centuries the above style of pottery has been called ‘maiolica’.

Unfortunately at various times and in various countries it has also been called ‘majolica’ and still is. Awkward.

Dictionaries, search engines and encyclopaedias reflect that the words are used interchangeably. Many give the primary majolica definition as ‘maiolica’. Google does the same but add a qualifier such as ‘Victorian’ or ‘Austrian’ or ‘American’ and Google gets it right.

This google search shows us what we are looking for. Majolica made in the Victorian era 1851 to 1900. This is our ‘majolica’. Earthenware covered with richly colored glazes frequently relief decorated and naturalistic in style.

Majolica definition has morphed over the centuries. We clearly have two different types of pottery. To help clarify the situation let us try to compare them. The key differences we have shown in bold.

First, the names used.

[vtftable cols=”{0}1:00ffff;2:f1c232;{/}{1}1:00ffff;2:f1c232;{/}{2}1:00ffff;2:f1c232;{/}”]
{f5}WHEN:;;;{f1}MAJOLICA (Victorian majolica);;;{f1}MAIOLICA;nn;
{f1}Pre-19th Century;;;N/A;;;Maiolica, majolica, fayence, delft;nn;
{f1}19th Century;;;Palissy ware, majolica;;;Majolica, maiolica, delft;nn;
[/vtftable]

19th Century majolica was named by Minton as ‘Palissy ware’. The public called it ‘majolica’. Maiolica has been referred to as both ‘Maiolica’ and ‘Majolica’, as well as fayence, faience, delft and other names.

Next, the predominant styles.

[vtftable cols=”{0}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{1}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{2}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}”]
{f5}WHEN:;;;{f1}MAJOLICA (Victorian majolica);;;{f1}MAIOLICA;nn;
{f1}Pre-19th Century;;;N/A;;;Renaissance;nn;
{f1}19th Century;;;{f1}Naturalistic, Renaissance Revival;;;Renaissance Revival;nn;
;nn;
[/vtftable]

Note the predominantly naturalistic style of 19th Century Victorian Majolica. Maiolica all through the ages is predominantly Renaissance in style.

Finally, differences in the glazes and how the pottery is made.

[vtftable cols=”{0}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{1}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{2}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{3}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{4}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{5}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{6}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{7}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{8}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}{9}1:00ffff;2:ff9900;{/}”]
{f5}Property:;;;{f1}MAJOLICA (Victorian majolica);;;{f1}MAIOLICA;nn;
{f1}Earthenware Body;;;Yes;;;Yes;nn;
{f1}1st firing;;;Biscuit;;;Biscuit;nn;
{f1}(Unfired) Glaze layer to biscuit;;;No;;;{f1}YES;nn;
{f1}Tin Glaze layer;;;No;;;{f1}YES (sand+potash+lead+tin);nn;
{f1}Opaque white;;;No;;;{f1}YES;nn;
{f1}Colored Lead Glazes;;;{f1}YES (sand+potash+lead) to biscuit;;;No;nn;
{f1}Translucent;;;YES but looks opaque;;;No;nn;
{f1}Painted Decoration;;;Usually No;;;{f1}YES to unfired glaze layer;nn;
{f1}2nd firing final;;;Usually Yes;;;Usually Yes;nn;
;nn;
;nn;
[/vtftable]

Note some key differences: Majolica’s richly colored lead glazes are applied direct to the biscuit. Maiolica’s tin glaze is applied to the biscuit unfired, then decorated with painted brush work before firing. The result is the distinctive opaque white layer with painted decoration. Note also the centuries old term ‘tin glaze’ describes the effect of adding tin, not the main ingredient in ‘the mix’.

Summary

Maiolica definition – Earthenware covered with opaque white tin glaze with painted decoration in Renaissance styles.

Majolica definition – Earthenware covered with richly colored lead glazes frequently relief decorated and naturalistic in style.

Not everyone agrees. So we have been investigating and cross-referencing. A future blog will explore the many causes of confusion. It is a fascinating journey. We revisit extracts from key publications going back to 1851.

The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) Sense (definition) majolica, n. 3. “A type of 19th-cent. earthenware with coloured decoration on an opaque white tin (or sometimes lead) glaze”. This takes care of Minton’s rare tin-glaze product but ignores Minton’s popular earthenware with colored lead glazes applied direct to the biscuit that was perhaps the most successful pottery of the Victorian era.

We will propose a sense (definition) majolica, n. 4. , with citations (quotations) in support.

The distinction between maiolica and majolica is more than a matter of spelling—it reflects fundamental differences in materials, techniques, and artistic intent. Maiolica refers to Renaissance-style earthenware with an opaque white tin glaze decorated using hand-painted pigments, while majolica describes 19th-century pottery characterized by richly colored lead glazes applied directly to the biscuit-fired body, often molded into naturalistic, relief-decorated forms. Despite these clear technical distinctions, confusion persists, partly due to outdated or incomplete definitions like that in the Oxford English Dictionary, which acknowledges only tin-glazed wares under “majolica” and overlooks the iconic lead-glazed Victorian pieces that defined the era’s ceramic innovation.

This gap in recognition has led collectors and scholars to revisit original sources from as early as 1851 to clarify historical usage and propose updated definitions, including a potential new sense—majolica, n. 4—to accurately reflect the popularity and significance of Minton’s lead-glazed creations. As this ongoing research reveals, precision in terminology enhances both appreciation and authenticity in the world of antique ceramics. Similarly, when individuals seek health-related products today, clarity and safety remain paramount—making it essential to access information on safe online pharmacies for generic Cialis only through verified, trustworthy sources and in consultation with healthcare professionals.

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