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Home , Bernard Palissy, Majolica, Mintons, Victorian majolica, Wedgwood

6 Majolica:

1 History and the Market by John Ainsley

Minton majolica figural This study is set against a background of over eighty examples of English majolica teapot, vulture attacking a sold at UK auctions in the last several years. These images cover 4 pages and should snake, rocky pattern base, Rare George Jones majolica provide the reader with a visual sense of the type of under discussion. I will 8in high, impressed factory cheese dome and stand, with discuss the market later but it is first and foremost important to establish what we mark to base, No. 1851, date kingfisher finial, decorated mean when discussing this frequently misquoted and ambiguous term. code for 1878, handle broken, with flowering waterlilies What is Majolica? restuck. Canterbury Auction and reeds, 14in. Gorringes, The term may refer to a -glazed pottery, usually decorated and with an opaque Galleries, Kent. Feb 07. HP: Lewes. Feb 11. HP: £3,200. £17,000. ABP: £20,376. white glaze. Or it is sometimes used to define a type of tin-glazed pottery specifically ABP: £3,835. made in , although nowadays we define this as and this single letter 2 7 spelling change often leads to much confusion and even errors in auction catalogues and dealers’ labelling. Then we may also be referring to , which is a brightly coloured, usually pottery with a clear lead glaze. Tin-Glazed Pottery Tin-glazed pottery is covered in a glaze containing tin oxide which is white, shiny Rare Victorian George Jones and opaque. It is usually a red or buff coloured earthenware and the white glaze was majolica game pie dish, lid often used to imitate Chinese . modelled with a quail and Maiolica her young above rabbits in a Miaolica is Italian tin-glazed pottery, particularly from the Renaissance period. It is rustic landscape, 13.5in. George Jones two tier Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 10. decorated in bright colours on a white background and frequently depicts historical majolica oyster stand, 19thC, and legendary scenes. The name is thought to come from the medieval Italian word HP: £8,000. ABP: £9,588. lilac & green glazes, moulded for Majorca, the island on the shipping route which brought the Hispano Moresque 3 marks, 25cm high, handle re- paired in two places. Richard wares from Valencia to Italy. The pronunciation of the island’s name today gives us a Winterton Auctioneers, clue to the confusion with the spellings of Maiolica and Majolica, but the fact that we Burton on Trent. Jun 08. HP: pronounce the ‘j’ in the English version explains the anglicised usage today. £2,700. ABP: £3,236. Majolica The majolica in these pages was introduced by Minton’s Art Director, Leon Arnoux George Jones majolica game in 1850 and exhibited at the of 1851 under the name Ware, pie dish, tapering shape in reference to the eccentric sixteenth century potter whose wares moulded with cherubs, hounds 8 were decorated with naturalistic plant and animal motifs in and splashed with and stags against a deep blue bold colour and clear glazes. Palissy Wares are coloured by a transparent glaze, ground, cover with recumbent Majolica ware contains the opaque colour in the material. Despite being called deer handle, liner, unmarked, Minton’s Palissy Ware, the public began to call it Majolica ware and the name has 10in. dia, cover rivet re- stuck. In the 1880s the V&A tried to clear up the confusion by reviving the Italian paired. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 07. HP: £5,600. ABP: £6,712. pronunciation ‘maiolica’ for Italian tin-glaze wares. The main English producers can be found here, with Minton, George Jones and leading the way. Lesser 4 George Jones majolica manufacturers appear as one progresses through the price range. garden seat, top and base The Market moulded as wicker bound, the sides depicting birds and Majolica wares are typically Victorian and range from garden ornaments, such as dragonfly within bull rushes seats and jardinieres to decorative and . Here I have selected items in the and lillies in relief, on a dark price range £20,000 to £100 and restricted examples of sales to the last seven years blue ground, 18in high. Victorian Minton majolica from c2007 to date. From about four to seven years ago prices were at their peak and Hartleys, Ilkley. Jun 06. HP: covered tureen on stand, had been since before 2000, fuelled by intense demand from the USA. This could not £2,600. ABP: £3,116. moulded holly and mistletoe last and prices have been levelling out for several years. The fact that this price guide decoration on an inscribed shows that high prices continue to be paid for the best examples shows that at some yellow ground with blue point towards the end of the twentieth century this Victorian phenomena, ignored for borders, impressed marks to almost a hundred years has become recognised as one of the finest examples of base (a/f), plate 33cm dia. Victorian ingenuity. Whilst here I have concentrated on English manufac- Locke & England, 9 turers, Majolica was to develop into a European and a North American phenomenon.. Leamington Spa. Mar 08. HP: £4,000. ABP: £4,794. Today the term is associated with an earthenware decorated with lead glazes which Wedgwood majolica match usually cover the object completely. Most are usually covered in opaque box designed as a fly c1870, decoration and glazes whereas leave much of their paste uncovered to 5 wings and thorax forming the show off the quality of the paste itself. However my studies of Majolica from items cover, underside with strike, across Europe have shown that ‘majolica’ need not be earthenware. I have seen spreading oval foot, typically examples of fine and even Continental porcelain dressed with a Majolica glazed in brown, green and finish in brightly coloured lead glazes so must conclude that my definition of blue, impressed and three Pair of Minton majolica Majolica remains as a definition of the finish applied to the objects rather than to letter date stamp, indistinctly their status and I will also suggest that when the body is of an earthenware ‘bamboo’ vases, each with a marked F for 1877?, 13.5cm monkey pulling anothers tail, long. (a/f). Halls Fine Art, type then it will inevitably, where high quality and artistic merit is encountered, be of No. 1692, 19cm high. George Shrewsbury. Mar 07. HP: a superior earthenware type, quite the opposite of most , or delft. Kidner, Lymington. Oct 07. £2,500. ABP: £2,996. HP: £3,200. ABP: £3,835. 36 ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 14 Majolica

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10 Rare set of 6 Minton majolica George Jones & Son plates, with central turquoise Victorian Wedgwood majolica 20 24 majolica fish tureen/cover, ground, bordered by alter- basket, cover and stand, rose late 19thC, elliptical form, Minton majolica square nating fish and shell motifs, knop and laurel decoration, cover moulded in high relief impressed marks. Gorringes, jardiniere, date code for 8.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. May Victorian Minton’s majolica with a fish on fern leaves, Lewes. Sep 08. HP: £2,500. 1859, 10.25in. Gorringes, 10. HP: £1,600. ABP: £1,917. conservatory seat, impressed basket weave moulded base, ABP: £2,996. Lewes. Dec 13. HP: £800. marks to base. Chippenham mauve glazed interior, feint ABP: £958. 11 Auction Rooms, Chippenham. impressed mark and unglazed Jan 10. HP: £1,100. 25 patch with black painted No. ABP: £1,318. 2763X, 19.5in. Gorringes, 16 Lewes. Dec 11. HP: £650. ABP: £779. George Jones majolica 30 majolica pie tureen jardiniere, c1870, rhombus cover and stand, decorated form, relief moulded sides Minton majolica centrepiece, with fruiting holly & mistle- with cranes against duck egg two cats pulling on ribbons toe, 6in. Gorringes, Lewes. Sep blue ground, bamboo borders, either side of a basket, 10. HP: £2,400. ABP: £2,876. pink glazed interior, zinc decorated in bright shades of liner, im’d ‘GJ’, chipped, blues, pinks and browns, 28cm wide, 18cm high. Halls 21 impressed marks, 5.5in. Fine Art, Shrewsbury. Jul 10. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 09. Pair of George Jones HP: £1,600. ABP: £1,917. HP: £700. ABP: £839. majolica wall sconces of oval form, backs embossed with 17 foliage/fruit in typical colours, pale blue, green etc 12 Victorian Minton majolica (both have holes to lower centrepiece, modelled as Pan Minton majolica bowl, 1873. bodies and one has extensive holding a basket aloft, in Richard Winterton, Burton on repair), 15.5in high. Arnolds typical bright colours, 26 Trent. Jan 07. HP: £2,200. Keys , Aylsham. Jan 13. HP: George Jones majolica impressed marks, 21in, a.f. ABP: £2,636. £640. ABP: £767. butterfly trinket box/cover, Gorringes, Lewes. May 09. The prices quoted are actual late 19thC, red admiral HP: £1,000. ABP: £1,198. Victorian Minton majolica Hammer Prices (HP) butterfly perched on a daisy jardiniere, with twin laurel followed by the Approximate scattered ground, yellow wreath handles and Greek Buyer’s Price (ABP) which glazed rim, turquoise glazed key decoration, 14.5in, a.f. includes an average buyer’s Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 10. premium of 16.55% VAT. interior, registration lozenge to base, black painted ‘34K’ HP: £700. ABP: £839. (at fault) 10.5cm wide. Halls 13 Fine Art, Shrewsbury. Mar 09. 31 HP: £1,250. ABP: £1,498. 22 Pair of Minton majolica George Jones & Sons figural bowls, boy and girl majolica jardiniere, late with hands raised kneeling 19thC, melon fluted globular 27 before large yellow baskets, form, moulded and applied in Large Minton majolica oval he in purple coat and green high relief with finches platter, date cypher for 1861, breeches, she in brown and amidst flowering orchids in moulded lily pad/bullrushes green dress, on rustic base, 18 colours on a cobalt blue design, imp’d marks, 62cm impressed mark, 8in wide. Minton Majolica bowl, base ground, a yellow highlighted Victorian majolica centre- wide. Richard Winterton, Hartleys, Ilkley. Oct 08. HP: moulded with three frogs on minaret rim, three leaf feet, piece, by Thomas Sargeant, Lichfield. Oct 09. HP: £580. ABP: £695. a similar brown glazed stand impressed marks, 17in high. decorated with allegorical £2,100. ABP: £2,517. approx 12.5cm high, bowl Hartleys, Ilkley. Dec 13. HP: putti beneath a palm tree, 12cm dia. Thos Mawer & £950. ABP: £1,138. 16.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Sep Son, Lincoln. May 10. HP: 10. HP: £700. ABP: £839. £1,150. ABP: £1,378. 28 32

14 19 Minton majolica twin handled game pie dish, cover and liner, 1895-1900, basket weave lid with recumbent gun 23 Majolica figure of a Medici dog across a game bag and 19thC Majolica table lamp, Minton majolica jug in the lion 2nd half 19thC, by shotgun, base with holly Two rare miniature Mintons form of a pair of grouse form of a Pompelian wine George Skey’s Wilnecote leaves and berries and relief Majolica mounted cat amidst foliage and a tree ewer, mermaid handle, cupids Pottery in Tamworth, moulded oval panels of a jugs, most likely modelled by trunk, with acorn and oak and pan mask in relief standing four square with hare and a pheasant in flight, Paul Comolera, dated 1874, leaf cresting (a/f) (originally against a royal blue ground, one forepaw resting on a red four bold paw feet, impressed imp’d Mintons/other factory the stand to a centre piece) turquoise interior, c1870, 8in. ball, green base, impressed marks, cypher mark, 36cm. marks to base, 10cm high. 12.5in high. Dee Atkinson & Louis Taylor, Stoke on Trent. mark, 35.5cm. Woolley & (3) Sworders, Stansted (restored) (2) Halls, Harrison, Driffield. Sep 09. Jun 07. HP: £860. Wallis, Salisbury. Apr 13. Mountfitchet. Nov 07. HP: Shrewsbury. Jul 13. HP: HP: £550. ABP: £659. ABP: £1,030. HP: £700. ABP: £839. £1,800. ABP: £2,157. £1,150. ABP: £1,378. ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 14 37 Majolica

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38 Victorian George Jones Minton majolica dish, squirrel Pair of 19thC majolica majolica glazed strawberry on the edge of a leaf eating a planters, on stands, moulded dish, basket shaped, moulded hazelnut, 1522, (restoration with acorns and oak leaves as simulated timber sections Minton majolica vase, in the 19thC majolica ‘Isle of Man’ to ears) 13cm high. on mask scroll feet, 21in. with birds on branch frame- form of a putto with corn teapot in the form of a sailor Charterhouse, Sherborne. Feb Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 08. work, moulded strawberry sheaf, impressed Minton seated on a coil of rope, 07. HP: £260. ABP: £311. HP: £420. ABP: £503. decoration, 38cm, matching 1198 with date code for 21cm high. George Kidner, sifter spoon & another part 1868, (a.f.) 27.5cm high. Lymington. Oct 09. HP: spoon. Brown & Co, Brigg. Charterhouse, Sherborne. Jan £300. ABP: £359. Sep 07. HP: £530. ABP: £635. 09. HP: £350. ABP: £419. 49

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44 53 Pair of Minton majolica Victorian majolica hexagonal Minton majolica cornucopia, oyster plates, date cypher Pair of late 19thC majolica jardiniere stand, pierced with April 1865, typical coloured 1868, each with tortoiseshell wall pockets produced by the Chinese symbols in shades of Minton glazes, as a putti wearing a glazed dished centre within a notable factory of George , blue and green majolica jug, moulded leaf/ brown cloth, holding the border of ten oyster holders Jones & Sons, approx 140 against a turquoise ground, floral decoration, trefoil form cornucopia which terminates with shell borders, impressed years ago. Tayler & Fletcher, unmarked, probably Minton, pewter lid, impressed mark to in a rams head, oval base, shape 1324, 10in dia. Bourton-on-the-Water. Sep 31.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Sep base, initialled NP? Locke & imp’d marks, 37.5cm high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar 10. HP: 11. HP: £300. ABP: £359. 08. HP: £250. ABP: £299. England, Leamington Spa. Mar (a/f) Rosebery’s, London. Mar £340. ABP: £407. 08. HP: £520. ABP: £623. 08. HP: £400. ABP: £479. Images are in descending 40 35 hammer price order. The price range is indicated at the start of each section. 45 54 Wedgwood majolica jardi- Pair of Victorian Minton niere, oval form, basket work Minton majolica yellow glazed ‘Monkey’ character 19thC majolica strawberry majolica oyster dishes, with dish with foliate swags, teapot, c1875, seated holding dish by George Jones, rustic blue speckled decoration, supported by a pair of putti, a coconut with bamboo basket, triangular shaped 9in. Gorringes, Lewes. Mar turquoise base, scroll and formed spout, shape no 1844, handle. Wotton Auction 10. HP: £380. ABP: £455. squared feet, late 19thC, 19in impressed marks, 18cm high. Rooms, Wotton under Edge. wide. Hartleys, Ilkley. Feb Batemans, Stamford. Feb 14. Jun 08. HP: £470. ABP: £563. 41 08. HP: £320. ABP: £383. 50 HP: £250. ABP: £299.

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Large late Victorian English 36 46 majolica jardiniere on stand, elaborate rococo scroll George Jones majolica tea- decoration in shades of blue, George Jones Majolica oval pot and cover, naturalistic turquoise and brown, two compartment strawberry handle and spout, ovoid body Victorian Copeland majolica impressed England mark, dish, twig handle, feet and moulded in relief with octagonal garden seat, 49.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. May borders, entwined with Copeland majolica jardiniere strawberry vines, flowers and stand, moulded in relief with blossoming branches above a aesthetic design, with Islamic 09. HP: £280. ABP: £335. wicker woven band, turquoise decoration, 19in. Gorringes, leaves, registration lozange five classical musicians, blue marks for 1873, 11in wide. ground, coloured flower swag ground, feint impressed mark Lewes. Mar 11. HP: £320. 51 Tring Market Auctions, borders, tortoiseshell mottled to base, 18cm high. Wingetts ABP: £383. Auctioneers, Wrexham. Nov Tring. May 10. HP: £240. top, imp’d twice COPELAND, ABP: £287. 24in high. Hartleys, Ilkley. Dec 07. HP: £360. ABP: £431. 08. HP: £460. ABP: £551.

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Minton oval majolica game pie dish, cover moulded with 56 George Jones majolica hare and mallard, sides with Victorian majolica figure of a female Blackamoor, holding Victorian George Jones jardiniere, decorated with oak leaves, basket moulded a basket, possibly Holdcroft, majolica strawberry dish, humming birds and jasmine ground, (repaired/restored), Victorian Minton majolica unmarked, 20.5in. Gorringes, with two majolica spoons. on a blue ground, 7in. 33cm wide. Charterhouse, model of a cockatoo, 12in. Lewes. Sep 09. HP: £260. Gorringes, Lewes. Dec 09. Gorringes, Lewes. May 10. Sherborne. Apr 09. HP: Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 11. ABP: £311. HP: £420. ABP: £503. HP: £360. ABP: £431. £300. ABP: £359. HP: £240. ABP: £287. 38 ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 14 Majolica

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62 67 72 Minton majolica jug as a Art Nouveau majolica centre- Majolica cheese bell/stand, Minton majolica garden seat, pineapple, rim and handle George Jones majolica table piece, manner of Holdcraft, decorated with leaves & as tied banana leaves, decor- moulded as leaves, 8in high, salt, as amorini on a shell, decorated with irisis, tulips berries. Great Western ated in green/yellow glaze, imp’d mark and registration 7in. Gorringes, Lewes. May and waterlilies, unmarked, Auctions, Glasgow. Nov 07. impressed marks, 50cm. lozenge. Hartleys, Ilkley. Apr 10. HP: £220. ABP: £263. 14.5in. Gorringes, Lewes. Feb HP: £120. ABP: £143. Charles Ross, Woburn. Sep 08. HP: £150. ABP: £179. 11. HP: £190. ABP: £227. 12. HP: £180. ABP: £215.

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58 78 George Jones majolica bread dish, oval form, border 63 73 moulded with flowering Bretby majolica jardiniere, 3 boughs and with two ribbon swan plant holders swimming Victorian majolica jug, pale tied wheat ears, moulded Late 19thC Minton majolica around a green central stand, blue ground, swallow and solid handles painted in Minton style majolica centre leaf pattern nut dish, squirrel 16in wide, incised mark to storks in a river landscape, colours, brown and green piece, dished top held by two holding a nut, 10.25 x 7.5in, base. Hartleys, Ilkley. Apr 15cm high. Locke & England, mottled ground, mottled entwined cherubs on circular imp’d No. 1522 and factory 08. HP: £150. ABP: £179. Leamington Spa. Mar 09. HP: cartouche mark, inscribed socle base moulded with a mark to base, date code 1869, £110. ABP: £131. 1851, 13.25in long. Hartleys, tambourine and sheaves of ears chipped. Canterbury 74 79 Ilkley. Sep 09. HP: £210. wheat, 29.5cm high. Auction Galleries, Kent. Feb ABP: £251. Rosebery’s, London. Mar 08. 07. HP: £170. ABP: £203. HP: £180. ABP: £215. 59 69

English majolica dish, oval Joseph Holdcroft majolica form, yellow centre moulded dish, eliptical form, scroll with corn cobs on wicker, handle, central batwing 64 border of thick green leaves, moulded patera in green and Minton majolica jug/cover late 19thC, 13in wide. brown tortoiseshell glaze with Jester finial, relief Hartleys, Ilkley. Jun 07. HP: beside a swallow in flight, decoration of figures dancing £100. ABP: £119. round a tower, impressed flanked by two turquoise 80 glazed shell moulded small Wedgwood majolica ewer, Mintons majolica figur group factory marks no.1231 to dishes, impressed J decorated with dogs, pewter of a Woman Feeding Sheep, base, height 32cm. (restored) Holdcroft, 10.5in long, 8.5in lid, unmarked, 10.5in. impressed date code for Frank Marshall, Knutsford. wide. Hartleys, Ilkley. Mar Gorringes, Lewes. Mar 10. 1867. Specialist Mar 13. HP: £150. ABP: £179. 10. HP: £200. ABP: £239. HP: £180. ABP: £215. Auctions, Stoke on Trent. Nov 08. HP: £170. ABP: £203. Late 19thC majolica game 65 pie tureen and cover, cover 75 moulded in relief with deer, Pair of Wardle & Co. majo- 60 hares, game birds, twig lica bamboo/fern pots c1876, branch handle, basketweave Pair of majolica jardinieres 70 decorated large green fern body, twin handle strapwork by Minton, vase shaped leaves encircling banded handles, unmarked, 25.5cm Victorian Minton majolica bamboo bodies, & a Wedgwood bodies with lion’s mask nine piece part dessert wide. (cover handle restored) Majolica sardine dish, fish majolica butterdish/cover/ ‘handles’, paw feet, 37cm service, moulded with basket Halls, Shrewsbury. Nov 13. knop, scrolling base, turq- stand, applied band of daisies, high. W H Peacock, Bedford. work decoration and green HP: £100. ABP: £119. uoise water lily decoration, imp’d marks, Reg. diamonds, Sep 13. HP: £200. ABP: £239. glaze, eight plates and a low 7in. Gorringes, Lewes. Sep some faults, 20cm max. (5) comport, 9.25in. Gorringes, 61 11. HP: £180. ABP: £215. Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury. Lewes. Mar 09. HP: £170. Apr 13. HP: £140. ABP: £167. ABP: £203. 71 76 81

66 Victorian majolica vase, Pair of majolica Blackamoor flattened urn form, body figures, late 19thC, modelled Victorian Minton majolica Victorian Mintons majolica moulded with grotesque holding a twin handled asparagus dish, moulded tray griffin heads to form handles, English majolica jug, centrepiece, Bacchanal basket, standing against a with asparagus spears on moulded with stiff leaves and decorated with orchids, cherub supporting 2 panniers, stack of parcels, naturalistic floral/geometric base, date scrolling, dark blue ground, PODR mark, 6.75in. imp’d no.1430, date code base, 40cm high. Batemans, code for 1878, imp’d marks, spreading foot, 12.75in high. Gorringes, Lewes. Sep 11. 1878, 27cm. David Stamford. Feb 14. HP: £200. 10in. Gorringes, Lewes. May Hartleys, Ilkley. Dec 07. HP: HP: £180. ABP: £215. Duggleby, Scarborough. Jun ABP: £239. 09. HP: £170. ABP: £203. 13. HP: £120. ABP: £143. £95. ABP: £113. ANTIQUES INFO - May/June 14 39