Maiolica is
simply an old Italian word for pottery – specifically earthenware (as opposed to
red terracotta), with painted decoration on a white background under a
tin-based glaze. It is believed the term was first used to describe the
medieval lustre pottery from Spain that was imported into Italy via the island
of Mallorca. As the spirit or Renaissance spread through Italy during the 15th
century, maiolica potters in Tuscany, particularly those near Florence, took
the manufacture of pottery into a totally new dimension.
It is these early
pieces and, to a lesser extent, 17th and 18th-century
examples that interest collectors today. More affordable are 19th-century
copies of early master works predominantly pictured on the photos here – which have
just as much decorative potential without the high price tag.
