What IS Maiolica?/Care of Wares
Maiolica is tin-glazed earthenware
made white by the addition of tin oxide to a lead glaze foundation, or background
coat. (Today, lead is no longer used for safety reasons). This application gives
the body a glassy, dense white cover that does not become highly fluid when
fired. Decorations can then be painted with out running or blurring on the white
surface. The white surface also serves as a strong complementary ground for
the overlying colors. Firing at a low temperature fuses the glaze and sets the
color of the decoration.
Maiolica is an art form dating back to 14th century Italy. The name originates
from that date when the principal port for Italy was Pisa. Spanish Moors introduced
the pottery to Italy sailing to Pisa via Majorca (in Italian, "Maiorca")
. The Europeans thought the pottery originated there and hence the name was
born.
Tin glazed items were not invented by the Italians, in fact the beauty of eastern
ceramics had been well known to the Renaissance Italians for a long time. The
first examples of this technique were found in Baghdad and dated to the 9th
Century - there symmetrical patterns were painted in blue and white. However
by the by the end of the 11th century Islamic pottery, including lusterware,
had been in widespread use for the embellishment of religious and civic buildings.
It is thought to have been introduced by the crusaders at the as trophies demonstrating
victories over the pagans by powerful Christian forces.
During the 13th through to the early 15th century Tuscany had good trade relations
with Moorish Spain and imported large quantities of lusterware from Spain. This
is when the Italians began to work with tin glazed ware. It is interesting to
note that the only difference between the Italian and Spanish products of this
period is the absence of metallic luster on the Italian wares. Italian Maiolica
eventually dominated the pottery of Europe and set a trend that lasted more
than three hundred years.
Each piece begins with "black" * (note: “black” clay is a dark greenish-gray
color) clay; it is fired once and becomes the recognizable terra cotta color.
Once fired a second time with glaze and pigments, their trademark fiery colors
emerge. The first historical period of Italian Maiolica encompasses part of
the 14th century as well as most of the 15th century. During this period, the
objects were created mostly for utilitarian purposes with decorations based
on abstract and geometric motifs.
*Today, red, buff and even white earthenware is used. Using white earthenware
with underglazes applied to greenware and clear glaze applied after the first
firing (thereby eliminating the need for white glaze at all)is a relatively
modern technique, as white earthenware was not known until after the Renaissance.
However, Venetian Cat Studio creates maiolica in the Old World way, using only
red or buff terra cotta and a white tin-based ground upon which colors are painted
and then sealed with clear glaze. This time-tested technique is still practiced
in Italy today.
For More information on History and Origins of Maiolica, Download for FREE:
PowerPoint: "Italian Maiolica: History and Techniques"
To download a FREE Power Point Viewer, click HERE
CARE OF WARES:
When maiolica is new and just out of the kiln, it is quite normal to hear little pinging and crackling noises. This is due to the glaze settling on the clay body. In a short time, this stops.
These wares are both food and dishwasher safe*, and all glazes are lead-free. They can also be used in the microwave,**but must not be subject to extreme changes in temperature, as this will crack the pieces. Wash as you would any good china, using regular dish detergent. Not for use in the oven.
* It is best not to use the drying cycle at the end, as this could cause crackling in the glaze surface.
** Wares tend to get very hot to the touch, so take care in handling.
