Have you fallen under its spell?
I have! I have a secret obsession for antique majolica, I won't lie.
With their jewel toned hues, whimsical shapes, and all-out personality
majolica has been adding joie de vivre to French Country style lovers' homes for hundreds of years!
Prized for being hand made originals, each one took hours of design and "making" -
majolica pieces are considered works of art today rather than every day pottery.
It's easy to see why the styles are so coveted by designers and collectors alike.
Majolica has a rich history, you can read more about it HERE >
and how to decorate with it HERE >
Today I'm sharing a few tips on how to tell if a piece is authentic, or a modern reproduction.
When it comes to buying majolica for your home and collection,
you have to take into account your personal taste, and price range.
There are real, authentic majolica pieces in every range and quality!
These tips will allow you to buy pieces that are a true art form.
1. STUDY. The best way to be able to spot a modern reproduction of majolica is to go visit some in real life. Go to a museum, an antique dealer's collection, or look at some of the pieces of authentic majolica we sell here at FrenchGardenHouse on our website. 2. QUALITY. The new majolica is clearly inferior to true, 19th and early 20th century pieces. They're second-rate copies. They won't have the same careful painting, sharply molded details, nor that "wow" factor that a true antique piece of majolica will have. 3. GLAZE COLOR. Old, authentic majolica is very colorful, their glazes will have a rich, lustrous color hue. Modern reproductions will be much more garish in their colors. While the true antique majolica pieces are carefully glazed, the new pieces can be sloppy, with drips and glaze runs. The production lines of newer copies don't allow for the same careful quality control that the Victorian pieces had. 4. WEIGHT. Antique majolica will have a certain weight to it. They are heavy pieces. Modern reproductions will be much, much "lighter" 5. UNDERSURFACE. The antique majolica pieces will have a body underneath the glaze that is pink, blue, green, golden yellow, or cream. Some pieces have a "mottled" undersurface of blue-brown, blue-black. Newer pieces will most likely have a white undersurface. 6. MARKS. Many 19th century majolica manufacturers clearly marked their wares. But there are plenty of smaller manufacturers such as beloved Joseph Holdcraft, who did not. Today's reproductions are either unmarked, or often have a pretend British diamond shaped registry mark on the bottom. 7. CONDITION. Most of us collectors seek out the most pristine pieces we can find. Large chips or cracks that go all the way through a piece are hard to accept. Dull glazing or looks too heavy is another thing not many collectors want to see in their cherished majolica collection. But once in a while, we can get carried away by a piece that has been repaired. If you are not a perfectionist, there are plenty of majolica beauties out there waiting for you, at a much friendlier price than the 500.- to thousands {or more!} pieces that would literally mean taking a chunk out of your year's food budget. 8. COMMON SENSE. If a piece of majolica seems very inexpensive and the price seems too good to be true, it probably IS.
I hope you become as smitten with these charming creations as we are here at FrenchGardenHouse!
There is such delight in arranging your collection of majolica throughout your home.
Each colorful piece adds a touch of history, French Country charm,
and exudes your personal style and taste.
ps. There are modern reproductions, made by reputable manufactures, that are marked with their own factory name and, often, the date of production.
DO YOU LOVE MAJOLICA?
à bientôt
25 comments
Carol, unfortunately we are not appraisers. There are services that will let you know about your piece for a nominal fee, even online ones. Or ask at a local antique store if they know of a local antique appraiser to help you. Good luck!
I have a large vase two handles .greenand blue with cherubs on.. the handles are of pink fish .marks on bottom y.in a sheild and99 or66 I’ve had this piece for 40 years can you help
Jodie, unfortunately we are not appraisers. If you wanted someone to identify your plate and give you a value, you will be able to find antique appraisers online fairly easily who will, for a small fee, identify your piece for you. Good luck!
I believe I have an 8" Majolica plate. Haven’t been able to find it anywhere on the internet. It has a Red Flower and a Purple flower (with yellow center) along with 5 small blue flowers in the center of the plate. On the back of the plate is faint “Made in Italy” Would you be able to tell me if this is a Majolica plate, and what it may be valued at? Look forward to your reply
Hello, I wonder if you would be able to help me identify a jardiniere that I have that I think is possibly majolica but I’m struggling to correctly identify it. Many thanks ?
Pamela, I’m so sorry, we don’t value antiques or other decorative pieces, that is not our expertise. There are many trained professionals that will do that for you for a small fee. You can either contact a local antique shop and ask them if they can refer someone to you, or look online under antique appraisals.
Can you please tell me approximately how old my Majolica piece is and more information about it please and approximately how much it is valued at? Any help would greatly be appreciated and a blessing. I can email you pictures if you send me a email address to send them to so you can see it.
Is it possible for you, or some other expert, to comment on a piece from photographs submitted? I think it’s Majolica. It was a piece included in the purchase of the entire inventory of an antique shop in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania suburb in 1971.
Carol, unfortunately I’m not an expert in Wedgwood. Some of the earlier Majolica wasn’t marked, and to add to the confusion even more, several factories produced almost identical pieces from molds. Saying that, Wedgwood began marking their pieces in 1759 with an impressed mark. The only way to know for sure is to hire a specialist appraiser.
Do you know if early Wedgwood was ever produced without a makers mark on the bottom? I have a Majolica sunflower basket platter, identical mold to the one by Wedgewood but lacking any impressed mark. The only bottom marking on mine are two navy blue dots. I would say it is older than similar ones I see online and the colors are beautiful….soft and muted.
Thanks
Carol McLaughlin