Italian maiolica wares, also known as majolica, are a type of tin-glazed earthenware pottery that originated in Italy during the Renaissance period. Maiolica wares are known for their colourful, highly decorative designs that are painted on a white background.

The name "Maiolica" is the medieval Italian name for the island of Majorca, where this type of pottery was originally thought to have been made. Majolica is a corrupted for of the word Maiolica and was used in the 19th century for a type of earthenware produced in Staffordshire by potteries such as Minton.

Maiolica wares were typically made by applying a tin glaze to earthenware pottery and then firing it in a kiln. The tin glaze creates a white surface that is perfect for painting intricate designs in bright colours. These designs often featured scenes from everyday life, landscapes, animals, or geometric patterns.

In Italy, maiolica wares were produced more...

23 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A Sixteenth century style Italian Maiolica charger, Gaetano…

A Sixteenth century style Italian Maiolica charger, Gaetano Battaglia, Naples, second half 19th century, the centre with a rustic scene of figures making music while working, the border with portraits of figures within cartouches amidst grotteschi, signed…

Italian 18th century Maiolica 'Ihs' font, with shaped back,…

18th Century Italian Maiolica Ihs Font with Lobed Well

Italian 18th century Maiolica 'Ihs' font, with shaped back, with Ihs roundel, above a lobed well, accented in tones of green, yellow and blue, height 24 cm

Large Italian Maiolica vase, with a short neck above a baluster…

Italian Maiolica Vase with Portrait Decoration

Large Italian Maiolica vase, with a short neck above a baluster body, decorated with two portraits, surrounded by a ground of acanthus scroll and flower heads, in tones of yellow, green and blue, height 36 cm

A large pair of Italian Maiolica Istoriato snake-handled vases,…

Italian Maiolica Istoriato Snake-Handled Vases with Classical Reserves

A large pair of Italian Maiolica Istoriato snake-handled vases, 19th century one painted with classical reserve depicting Tarquin and Lucretia and battle scene verso the other Coriolanus, Act V, scene III and biblical scene, once in the sitting room of…

Italian maiolica wet drug jar possibly Venetian, 17th century.…

17th Century Venetian Maiolica Wet Drug Jar

Italian maiolica wet drug jar possibly Venetian, 17th century. Ex: Bonhams Auctions 2013.

Antique Italian maiolica lidded tureen of small proportions,…

Small Italian Maiolica Tureen with Carnation Pattern

Antique Italian maiolica lidded tureen of small proportions, painted in bright enamels with the carnation pattern. Moorabool Antique Galleries label to base. Attributed to de Ferniani, Faenza, circa 1775, diameter 12.5 cm, height 10 cm

Naples Maiolica twin handled vase of baluster form, decorated…

Classical Naples Maiolica Twin Handled Vase with Mythical Creatures

Naples Maiolica twin handled vase of baluster form, decorated with scenes of classical figures, surrounded by scrolling mythical creatures and foliage, flanked by serpent handles, in tones of green, yellow and blue, factory mark to base, a/f, height 57 cm

Large Italian pedestal Maiolica bowl beautifully decorated with…

Italian Maiolica Pedestal Bowl with Maiden and Cupid Scene

Large Italian pedestal Maiolica bowl beautifully decorated with an interior scene depicting a maiden looking into a mirror which is being held by a cupid, the shaped edge accented with masked dolphins and border of raised grape vine borders of yellow,…

A trio of hand painted Portugese pottery dishes in the style of…

Maiolica-inspired Outdoor Leisure Pottery Dishes from Portugal

A trio of hand painted Portugese pottery dishes in the style of Maiolica, depicting scenes of outdoor leisure, signed Vicorzeie Agueda Portugal

A large Italian Maiolica istoriato ware 'Adoration' charger,…

Italian Maiolica 'Adoration' Charger - Hand Painted

A large Italian Maiolica istoriato ware 'Adoration' charger, the entire surface hand painted with a multitude of biblical figures. Diameter 50.5 cm

17th century Italian Maiolica jug, of baluster form, decorated…

Italian Maiolica Jug with Armorial Decoration

17th century Italian Maiolica jug, of baluster form, decorated with a central armorial depicting a cross and rocks, on a white ground with trailed scroll work, marked, S.F//1552 to verso, a/f, height 28 cm

18th century Italian Maiolica jug, of baluster form, painted…

Italian Maiolica Jug with Hares and Stylised Decor

18th century Italian Maiolica jug, of baluster form, painted with two hares amongst stylised decoration, in tones of green, blue and yellow, signed WAH to base, height 21.5 cm

Pair of Italian Maiolica plates, of circular form, decorated…

Italian Maiolica Plates with Stylised Flowers

Pair of Italian Maiolica plates, of circular form, decorated with stylised flowers in tones of blue and red, diameter 30.5 cm, (2)

Pair of Italian Maiolica plates, of circular form, decorated…

Italian Maiolica Plates with Floral and Circle Motifs

Pair of Italian Maiolica plates, of circular form, decorated with a central floral motif, surrounded by borders of repeating circles in tones of blue and green, a/f, diameter 30.5 cm (2)

An Italian maiolica albarello vase, probably18th century

18th Century Italian Maiolica Albarello Vase

An Italian maiolica albarello vase, probably18th century

A large Talavero maiolica two handled jar, Spanish, 17th…

17th Century Spanish Talavero Maiolica Jar

A large Talavero maiolica two handled jar, Spanish, 17th century. 41 cm high, 27 cm diameter

A small pair of Italian maiolica blue and white cylinder vases,…

Italian Maiolica Blue and White Cylinder Vases (19th Century)

A small pair of Italian maiolica blue and white cylinder vases, 19th century. 15 cm high

A rare Sicilian maiolica jar, Italian, 17th century. 29 cm high

17th Century Sicilian Maiolica Jar - Rare Find!

A rare Sicilian maiolica jar, Italian, 17th century. 29 cm high

A Italian maiolica waisted albarello, 17th century. 22 cm high

17th Century Italian Maiolica Waisted Albarello

A Italian maiolica waisted albarello, 17th century. 22 cm high

An Italian maiolica ovoid jar, late 17th century. 26 cm high

Late 17th Century Italian Maiolica Ovoid Jar

An Italian maiolica ovoid jar, late 17th century. 26 cm high

An Italian maiolica wet drug jar, possibly Venetian, 17th…

17th Century Italian Maiolica Wet Drug Jar

An Italian maiolica wet drug jar, possibly Venetian, 17th century, of bulbous form with a small spout and vertical handle, decorated with a portrait cartouche to each side on a blue ground with foliate decoration, 23.5 cm high. Provenance: Collection of…

Two Lombardy maiolica dishes, second half of the 18th century,…

Lombardy Maiolica Dishes with Ruins and Figures

Two Lombardy maiolica dishes, second half of the 18th century, Probably Pavia, painted with scenes of ruins and figures in a mountain landscape with other buildings in the background, the back painted with plants in brown, 26 cm diameter, The attribution…

An Italian maiolica plate and a tazza, 17th century, of…

17th Century Italian Maiolica Plate and Tazza

An Italian maiolica plate and a tazza, 17th century, of Apullian origin, the plate painted with a lady holding a flower in her mouth on a yellow ground with blue borders and decorative motifs, the tazza similarly decorated in blue with the head of a young…