People who are not familiar with pottery, often confuse it with faience. At first glance, the similarity is really not insignificant – both these and other products have a light-colored surface, as well as covered with a bright pattern. However, this is where the common features end. Faience is unpretentious and now rarely carries artistic value. Products made of it we see everywhere and use every day. The drawing on faience is most often printed with the help of special equipment, and the production itself is put on a stream. Majolica appeared in order to decorate the interior and make life brighter, and its creators in their artistry a little inferior to professional artists. Majolica products are painted by hand, thanks to which they acquire a special beauty and expressiveness. Today we will talk about what are the features of this technique, as well as how majolica influenced the formation of modern ceramics and what place it occupies in it.
From the history of majolica
The first such products appeared in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Later, the technology was improved by the Arabs and often used for the manufacture of decorative tiles and dishes. It was thanks to them that majolica came to Europe – after the conquest of Spain, many Arab masters moved to new territories. They brought with them the technology of making majolica. One of the first places in Europe, where it began to trade, was the island of Majorca, which gave the technique its name.
Italians visiting Mallorca were delighted by the ceramics sold there, on the white enamel of which bright patterns shone spectacularly. In the XIV century, they adopted the technology from the Spanish and by the XV century. developed it so that majolica products turned into true works of art. Previously, such ceramics decorated mainly plant and geometric ornaments, but the Italians began to depict on majolica real paintings – portraits, landscapes, domestic scenes, religious subjects. In addition, they greatly expanded the range of glazes suitable for this technique. To the usual yellow, blue and green were added new colors: cobalt, red, brown, orange, violet and others.
Main features
Despite the variety of varieties of majolica, all products made in this technique have a number of common features. Let’s highlight the main ones:
- For majolica, clay is usually chosen, forming a porous shard when solidified. Previously, potters used only natural materials, but now they introduce synthetic additives to increase strength.
- Before the second firing, the entire piece (or its exterior) is covered with a thick layer of white enamel.
- With the help of colored glazes, a bright image is applied. The ceramist can work in both monochrome and polychrome techniques. It is important that before applying colored glazes, he clearly understands what kind of drawing he wants to get. Majolica does not tolerate mistakes – the admitted inaccuracy can not be eliminated. Applying glazes masters usually begin with painting those areas where there will be colored elements of the image. Only after that the contour is drawn – black, silver or, for example, gold. The complexity of images in majolica varies: ceramists create on the surface of products both simple abstract ornaments and subject multifigure compositions. What unites them is the brightness of color (most often blue, green, yellow) and relief.
- After drawing and the second firing the product is covered with a layer of transparent glaze to fix the image. Then follows the third firing.
Work in the majolica technique is not suitable for beginner ceramists, as it requires great concentration and precision. In addition, it involves a number of risks. For example, some glazes when firing change color, and, therefore, there is a possibility that the finished result will differ from the master’s idea. Therefore, before undertaking to create a product, it is important to think through the details of the pattern, as well as test glazes on individual tiles.
Majolica in the modern world
Ceramic products created with the help of this technique are now often used for interior decoration. Due to the variety of color variations, majolica is combined with many existing styles. So, for strict classics will suit tiles and dishes made in monochrome (Gzhel or Delft), and if you want to decorate your apartment or home in accordance with the Eastern or Mediterranean traditions, it is better to choose more colorful options (Italian majolica or zulyaij).
Majolica tiles are strong enough, resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations, and also has good fire resistance. Due to these qualities, it is included in the finishing of fireplace areas, kitchen apron, bathroom, hallway.
Tableware made of majolica is often not suitable for everyday use, but can serve as an excellent decoration of the interior of the living room, office or cafe. In addition, elements made of majolica ceramics look good on various furniture and other objects of environment – coffee tables, mirrors, picture frames.
Due to the peculiarities of manufacturing and hand-painted real majolica is now quite expensive, but in stores you can buy its cheap analogs – ceramic tiles and dishes made by simplified technology, but with a pattern in the same style.
