19th Century French Faience and Other Plates Collection

• Lead Glaze - Lead glaze, also known as lead glaze or leaded glaze, is a type of glaze that contains lead oxide as one of its primary components. It was commonly used in the decoration of Chinese and Western ceramics from ancient times until the mid-20th century.
  
  In Chinese ceramics, lead glazes were used as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). The use of lead glazes became more widespread during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), when potters developed the technique of firing ceramics at a high temperature to create a translucent, glass-like surface. This type of glaze, known as "celadon," was often used to decorate delicate porcelain vessels.
  
  In the Western world, lead glazes were also commonly used to decorate ceramics. For example, during the Renaissance, lead glazes were often used to create brightly coloured majolica ware, which was popular in Italy and Spain. Lead glazes were also used in the production of English creamware and pearlware during the 18th and 19th centuries.
  
  While lead glazes were prized for their beauty and durability, they also posed a health risk to potters and consumers, as lead is a toxic substance. Today, the use of lead glazes in ceramics is highly regulated or banned in many countries, and modern ceramic artists have developed alternative glazing techniques that are safer and more environmentally friendly.
• Grisaille -
  Decorative painting in monochrome, usually shades of grey, olive green or buff, painted on wood, plaster, ceramic or stone surfaces to imitate marble figural sculpture or relief ornament.
  
  
  
  Grisaille, from the French "gris", or grey (colour) is a painting technique in which a monochrome image is created using only shades of gray, black and white, usually created by using a gray underpainting or a limited colour palette. It is often used to create the illusion of sculpture or relief on a flat surface, and was commonly used during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
  
  The technique of grisaille has been used in decorative arts for centuries. It was commonly used in the Renaissance and Baroque periods in Europe to create the illusion of sculptural relief on flat surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and furniture. This technique allowed artists to create the illusion of depth and dimensionality without the use of colour.
  
  During the Rococo period, grisaille was often used in the production of ceramics and porcelain to create finely detailed designs on a white or light-colored surface.
  
  In the 19th century, grisaille continued to be used in decorative arts, particularly in the production of ceramics, both Western and Oriental.
  
  
• Faience / Maolica - Originating in ancient Egypt, faience is the name given to tin-enamelled porcelain or earthenware, deriving its name from Faenza in Northern Italy. Also known as maiolica because at one time the wares passed through Majorca. In England, faience / maoilca underwent a revival in the late 19th century by the art potteries set up about that time.
  
  Majolica was the name given to a specific product evolved by Minton in 1851 and introduced at the Great Exhibition. The pottery was coloured with a clear glaze containing metallic oxides.
• Earthenware - A basic ceramic material that is fired at a low temperature. Earthenware is the basis of almost all ancient, medieval, Middle Eastern and European painted ceramics. After firing, the colour is the colour of the clay when it is dug from the ground: buff, brown and red. It is not waterproof until glazed. Creamware is a type of earthenware covered with a transparent lead glaze. Majolica, faience and delft are also earthenware covered in an opaque white tin glaze.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• faience - ceramics 72
• Gien pottery (France) - ceramics 31
• unmarked Continental and European 19th century - ceramics 30