majolica
Renaissance Italian ceramics
Majolica is a type of earthenware pottery with colorful, opaque glazes, typically featuring bold relief designs of leaves, flowers, fruit, or shells.
The style flourished in the Victorian era for decorative plates, vases, and jardinieres.
The sideboard displayed her grandmother's majolica platters.
Also spelled maiolica.
Low-temperature fired pottery
- tin-glazedCoated in opaque enamel
- terracottaFired reddish-brown ceramic
- bisqueCreamy seafood soup
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
firing · kiln · stoneware · faience · delftware · lustre · opaque · porous
European cultural reawakening
- FlorentineOf a Renaissance city
- SicilianFrom Italy's largest island
- MediterraneanSea between Europe, Africa, Asia
- TuscanOf a central Italian region
apothecary · tondo · grotesque
For beauty, not function
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- motifRecurring thematic element
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
- grotesqueDistorted, bizarre figure
scrollwork · cherub · garland · dolphin · shell · leaf · fern · floral
Flat dish for food
- chargerPower-restoring device or mount
- platterLarge flat serving dish
- vaseOrnamental container for flowers
- ewerHandled pouring vessel
jardinière · pitcher · teapot · compote · tureen · cachepot · umbrella stand · tile
Full of life, intensity
- polychromeHaving multiple colors
- turquoiseBlue-green opaque gemstone
- cobaltElement twenty-seven
- ochreIron-rich earth pigment
manganese · green · yellow · brown · blue · brilliant · saturated · painted
Hard glossy coating
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- glossySmooth and shiny
- matteNon-reflective surface finish
- overglazeDecoration applied after firing
underglaze · oxide · cobalt · manganese · copper · antimony · pigment · flux
Inherited family treasure
- vintageQuality from past eras
- VictorianOf a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
- provenanceRecord of ownership
patina · auction · collectible · Wedgwood · restoration · appraisal · reproduction · revival
earthenware
Low-temperature fired pottery
- tin-glazedCoated in opaque enamel
- terracottaFired reddish-brown ceramic
- bisqueCreamy seafood soup
clay · firing · kiln · stoneware · faience · delftware · lustre · opaque · porous · lead-glazed
Renaissance
European cultural reawakening
- FlorentineOf a Renaissance city
- SicilianFrom Italy's largest island
- MediterraneanSea between Europe, Africa, Asia
Tuscan · apothecary · tondo · grotesque
ornamental
For beauty, not function
- embellishmentDecorative addition or exaggeration
- motifRecurring thematic element
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
grotesque · scrollwork · cherub · garland · dolphin · shell · leaf · fern · floral · bird
plate
Flat dish for food
- chargerPower-restoring device or mount
- platterLarge flat serving dish
- vaseOrnamental container for flowers
ewer · jardinière · pitcher · teapot · compote · tureen · cachepot · umbrella stand · tile · basin
vibrant
Full of life, intensity
- polychromeHaving multiple colors
- turquoiseBlue-green opaque gemstone
- cobaltElement twenty-seven
ochre · manganese · green · yellow · brown · blue · brilliant · saturated · painted · tinted
enamel
Hard glossy coating
overglaze · underglaze · oxide · cobalt · manganese · copper · antimony · pigment · flux · frit
heirloom
Inherited family treasure
provenance · patina · auction · collectible · Wedgwood · restoration · appraisal · reproduction · revival · George Jones
majolicaporcelain
Translucent fired clay
bone china · fine china · stoneware · bisque · celadon