A majolica dish, 10 1/8 in. in diameter and made and marked with the date 1535 and a painted scene by a famous artist from Urbino, Italy, sold at a Freeman’s auction in Philadelphia for $157,000 (est., $3,000 to $5,000). It shows that the Internet allows bidders from all over the world to participate, often making local estimates low. Great pieces are quickly discovered. The dish went to a buyer in Paris.
Photo: © Freeman’s, www.freemansauction.com
Majolica should be maiolica. This is what Lucy Trench says about ‘majolica’ in her book Materials and Techniques in the Decorative Arts (John Murray, 2000): “[This is the] name used by the Minton factory for their lead-glazed earthenware produced in the mid-19th century. The term is sometimes used erroneously as an anglicized version of MAIOLICA. Majolica wares were characterized by coloured, transparent lead glazes and often have relief and applied decoration.” The dish you discuss is thus tin-glazed maiolica, which is basically the same as faience and delftware and is worlds apart from Victorian majolica.
do you have one of these?