| As an Italian, when I have to write in | | | | create the deep and brilliant translucent |
| English or talk with one of my American | | | | colors specific to majolica. |
| Customers I am always uncertain: should I say | | | | |
| Italian Pottery, Italian Ceramics or Italian | | | | This technique originates in the Middle East |
| Majolica? | | | | in the 9th century. By the 13th century |
| | | | majolica ware was imported into Italy through |
| In order to do away with any doubt, I did | | | | the Isle of Majorca, headquarter of the trade |
| some research and ran some tests. | | | | between Spain and Italy. |
| | | | |
| I learned quite a lot on the subject and I | | | | The Italians called it Maiolica, erroneously |
| would love to share my findings with you. | | | | thinking it was made in Majorca. They were |
| | | | fascinated by this new way of making ceramics |
| Let's start with technicalities. | | | | and soon started to copy the process, |
| | | | adapting it by their own creativity and |
| Here is a short review of the definition of | | | | traditions. The rise of Italian majolica in |
| the words Ceramics, Pottery and Majolica. | | | | Europe was fast and reached its peak of |
| Once we know exactly what we are talking | | | | artistic quality throughout central Italy |
| about, we will define what they really mean | | | | during the Renaissance - late 15th and early |
| to people.CERAMICS | | | | 16th centuries. |
| | | | |
| Ceramic is the most general term. It is | | | | Nowadays, in English the word Majolica is |
| derived from the Greek word keramos, meaning | | | | used to refer to ceramic ware in the |
| "clay". | | | | stylistic tradition of the Italian |
| | | | Renaissance. |
| Historically, ceramics were prepared by | | | | |
| shaping clay, decorating it, often glazing it | | | | A huge step ahead. |
| and firing it at high temperatures in a kiln. | | | | |
| | | | Now I know that I collect and sell Pottery, |
| However, this definition has changed. The | | | | specifically Earthenware, mostly Italian |
| term ceramics now refers to a diverse group | | | | majolica. |
| of materials, including cements and glass. | | | | |
| While all are fired at high temperatures, | | | | The original question is still unanswered, |
| clay is no longer a key component of | | | | though. I still do not know what I should |
| ceramics. | | | | call my beloved ware when talking to my |
| | | | American friends. Having rejected the use of |
| That is why, nowadays, the category ceramics | | | | Earthenware, because the word is by far too |
| technically includes both pottery and | | | | technical, I tested using the term Italian |
| porcelain, which, with their standard | | | | majolica. |
| formulas, have come to popularly represent | | | | |
| quality grades. | | | | Only museum staff or experts understood what |
| | | | I meant, and many of them figured I was |
| POTTERY | | | | taking about istoriato Renaissance ware, |
| | | | while I had in mind modern Italian majolica |
| Pottery is an ornamental or useful ware | | | | pieces. |
| shaped from moist clay and hardened by heat. | | | | |
| | | | As the next step I tested the phrase Italian |
| The type of clay used and the temperature at | | | | pottery. |
| which it is fired give pottery a different | | | | |
| appearance and strength. There are three | | | | The result was good, everybody knew I was |
| major pottery types. | | | | talking about clay ware in the shape of an |
| | | | Italian bowl, an Italian vase or an Italian |
| - Earthenware | | | | dinnerware set. I was not satisfied, though. |
| | | | Pottery is any kind of ware shaped from moist |
| It is also know as bisque or biscuit and it | | | | clay and hardened by heat. Pottery can be |
| is fired at low temperatures - 1800°to | | | | used for a $20 chicken cooking pot as well as |
| 2100° Fahrenheit. It is usually reddish or | | | | a $2000 Italian istoriato wall plate. |
| white. Due to its high porosity, earthenware | | | | |
| must usually be glazed to enable it to hold | | | | How could I convey both the technical process |
| water. Earthenware pieces have been found | | | | behind Italian pottery as well as its unique |
| that date back to 1400-1200 BC, making this | | | | quality and beauty? |
| craft the oldest pottery in history. | | | | |
| | | | I tested the term Italian ceramics and it |
| - Stoneware | | | | worked perfectly. Digging into my Customers |
| | | | and friends answers I found out that it |
| It is made of a heavier clay mixture, which | | | | actually conveyed high quality and included |
| can be fired at much higher temperatures - | | | | both dinnerware and ornamental ware. |
| 2200° to 2400° Fahrenheit. It is dense, | | | | |
| impermeable and hard enough to resist | | | | There is an historical explanation for this. |
| scratching by a steel point. It's brownish | | | | |
| gray and it can be used both blazed and | | | | Although "Ceramics" is - nowadays and in |
| unglazed. Ideal for cooking and baking. | | | | purely technical language - a more general |
| | | | term than pottery, it has been used for more |
| - Porcelain | | | | than 3000 years in the countries where this |
| | | | craft is born and it has evolved into an art. |
| It's made of a specific clay, containing | | | | Italy is one of those countries: we proudly |
| kaolinite, and it is fired at high | | | | handcrafted some of the finest ceramics in |
| temperatures - 2200° to 2500° | | | | the history of this art. |
| Fahrenheit. It is hard, impermeable (even | | | | |
| before glazing), white, translucent and | | | | Italian ceramics include the Etruscan |
| resonant. | | | | "bucchero", the Renaissance majolica and |
| | | | lusterware, the Baroque tiles from Sicily, |
| MAJOLICA | | | | the "zaffera" from central Italy, the |
| | | | contemporary clay art... |
| Majolica - also spelled Maiolica - is the | | | | |
| beautiful ware prepared by tin-glazing | | | | When we say Italian ceramics, we mean much |
| earthenware and firing it a second time. | | | | more than items made of clay, earthenware or |
| After the first firing, the bisque is dipped | | | | majolica. These two words embody artistic |
| into a bath of fast drying liquid glaze. | | | | heritage, history, regional traditions, the |
| | | | creativity of a people. They touch a chord in |
| When dry, the glazed piece is ready to be | | | | our souls. That is probably why so many |
| hand painted. A final firing at 1690° | | | | people are passionate about Italian ceramics. |
| Fahrenheit will make the glaze interact with | | | | |
| the metal oxides used by the painter to | | | | Like you and I. |