Maiolica or Italian faience is an earthenware, coated with a stanniferous or tin glaze, termed enamel. This is formed by the addition of oxide of tin to a silicious glaze or slip, thus rendering it white and opaque, hence its name, enamel.

The origin of this beautiful ceramic art may be traced to Persia. From Persia the art was carried by the Arabians to Fustat, or old Cairo, which was destroyed 1168 A.D., and amongst the ruins many fragments of gold and copper lustered ware have been found. This enamelled ware was introduced into Spain in the 13th century, and perfected there by the Moors, giving rise to the Hispano-Moresque ware. This ware was enriched with central heraldic arms, surrounded by concentric bands of foliage, arabesques, or inscriptions in blue, with a copper lustre. This Hispano-Moresque ware was manufactured chiefly at Malaga, Talavera, Triana and Valencia, and dates from the Moorish occupation of Granada A.D. 1235-1492.

In the island of Majorca, from which this beautiful ware derives its name, fine examples were manufactured at an early date by Persian and Arabian potters. After the conquest of Majorca by the Pisans, A.D. 1115, many of these examples were introduced into Italy, the art being subsequently cultivated in some of the smaller central states. The early Italian Maiolica was usually covered with a thin white “slip” or engobe of clay which served as a ground for the coloured patterns. It was then coated with a lead glaze and was known as mezza or mixed maiolica. In some examples the design was scratched or engraved through the upper layer or white engobe, showing the darker body underneath. This type of ware, known as “sgraffito” was also glazed with the lead glaze, forming, when fired, the beautiful iridescent lustre.

No remains of a tin enamel of Italian workmanship have been found in Italy prior to the time of Luca della Robbia, 1400-1481, who discovered an enamel of peculiar whiteness and excellence. The secret of its composition was kept by him, his nephew Andrea, and his great-nephews Giovanni, Luca and Girolamo, until 1507. The Mezza Maiolica was then superseded by the true Maiolica or the tin enamelled wares of Caffaggiolo, Castel Uurante, Urbino, Pesaro, Faenza, Forli, Diruta, Siena and Gubbio, with their remarkable brilliance of blues, greens, yellows and orange. The Gubbio ware is noted for its metallic ruby and golden lustre and was signed by Maestro Georgio (Georgio Andreoli, 1492-1537). The same artist also lustred many wares made by the potters of Urbino and Castel Durante. Other examples of Urbino ware are signed by Niccola da Urbino, 1490-1530, Orazio Fontano, 1540-70, Francesco Xanto Avelli, 1530-40. Faenza ware was produced at the Casa Pirota Botega, and Siena ware was signed by Maestro Benedetto.

The chief characteristics of Caffaggiolo ware are arabesques and figures in white, grey or yellow on a rich dark blue ground. Urbino has small medallions with figures and blue and yellow arabesques on a white ground, called Raffaelesque, being from designs by Raffaelle del Colle. Faenza has a yellow ground with blue arabesques.

In brief, the number of colours that could be used on the absorbent tin enamelled ground with its lead glaze was somewhat limited, consisting of blue, turquoise, yellow and orange. These colours are of great depth and translucency, and are only equalled by the blues and turquoise of China, Persia and India.

Gubbio ware is frequently enriched with a raised curved fluting called “Gadroons,” a most effective method of enhancing the beautiful ruby lustre of Maestro Giorgio. This Gubbio tradition was continued by Giorgio’s son, Vincentio, called Maestro Cencio, and many beautiful lustre works are signed by him.

This lustre was produced by exposing the ware to the action of smoke during the firing in the kiln; the smoke, being carbon in a highly divided state, reduces the metallic salts of the pigment or glaze, forming a thin film of metal upon the surface, the beautiful iridescent lustre resulting from the relative thickness of the film.

Castel Durante was frequently enriched, on white or grey borders, with delicate raised scroll-work in white slip or enamel, a process called “Lavoro di sopra bianco” or “bianco sopra bianco.”

Faenza Maiolica has, frequently, the whole surface of the ground covered with a dark blue enamel, enriched with dancing amorini and arabesques in blue, heightened with white “Sopra Azzurro.”

A frequent form of enrichment upon plates was to have small medallions painted with portraits and appropriate inscriptions, and doubtless intended as lover’s presents. They are known as “Amatorii Maiolica.”