A look at the design, market and legacy of Victorian pottery

Friday, January 14, 2011

Marine Majolica

In a previous post I wrote about Wedgwood's famous Ocean pattern. Marine life has been one of the richest sources of subject matter for majolica manufacturers. From the largest manufacturers like Minton and George Jones there's barely a centerpiece or conservatory piece that doesn't reference them. And of course there are the oyster plates!

Minton monumental centerpiece 
Minton majolica putti fountain
Minton majolica putti on dolphin vase
George Jones majolica centerpiece 
Luneville majolica centerpiece 
George Jones majolica spooner
Choisy-le-Roi centerpiece
Minton majolica putti centerpiece
Minton majolica sweetmeat 
Minton majolica fish plate
Forester majolica fish plate

M. S. Kuzniecov majolica shell plate

Wedgwood majolica fish plate
Wedgwood majolica shell pitcher 
Sarreguemines majolica vase
Minton majolica crane fountain
George Jones majolica oyster plate 
Minton majolica oyster plate 
Wedgwood dolphin and shells majolica oyster plate
Minton majolica fish oyster plate

From the smaller manufacturers like Fielding, Wardle and the Etruscan Works we have the famous Shell and Net pattern, Shell and Seaweed pattern and Shell series.

Etruscan Majolica Shell pattern
Wedgwood majolica Ocean tea set
Wardle majolica Shell tea set

Fielding majolica Shell and Net set

We also have the wonderful Adams and Bromley and Wedgwood fish pieces.

Adams & Bromley majolica fish tea set
Adams & Bromley majolica fish cheese bell
Wedgwood majolica flatfish platter

But many beautiful pieces were also created by other potters as well as unknown potteries. These pieces are generally overshadowed by the name potteries in big auctions but many of them are gorgeous in their own right and a great buy.

Unattributed shells & waves platter

Wardle majolica sardine
Unattributed majolica master salt
Onnaing majolica fish platter
Unattributed shell and seaweed pitcher



Holdcroft majolica fish plate
Holdcroft majolica terrine
Holdcroft majolica salmon platter
Bevington majolica fish basket
Shorter/Adams & Bromley majolica fish pitcher
Léon Brard Palissy majolica plaque
Léon Brard Palissy fish plaque
French Palissy majolica charger
Renoleau majolica palissy plaque
Thomas Sergent palissy plaque

French majolica Barbizet fish plaque

Palissy majolica fish basket

Holdcroft fish cheese dish



Majolica triton sweetmeat

Austrian majolica fish humidor

Adams & Bromley shell tazza

The number of different designs is endless and a wonderful legacy left to us by these majolica potters of the 19th century.

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