Italian Maiolica Ceramics

Majolica, Maiolica in Italian, is the word generally used for the enameled pottery that has been made in Italy since the Renaissance times. The name majolica is derived from the island of Majorca, the headquarters of trading vessels sailing between Spanish and Italian ports.

Today, majolica ceramics are made using the same techniques used since the Renaissance. Each piece is a hand painted museum quality reproduction from the originals of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Every collection has various decorative looks and finishes, yet all are compatible with one another. Each piece is hand molded and painted by hand. Every majolica ceramic is a unique work of art. They may vary in size, color, by paint smudges or fingerprints, and looseness of lids. These are characteristics of the artisan workmanship and are not to be considered manufacturing defects.

To create a Mojolia Ceramic, the molded or thrown clay piece is given a first, or bisque firing. It is then covered with an opaque glaze. Decorations are hand painted on the dry glaze, and a second firing fuses both the glaze and decoration to an even, glossy surface. The Painter, II Pittore, may paint a decoration free hand, or use a type of pounce, Spolvero, to stencil sketches of the design. This fine powder guides the painter in rendering the intricate designs.

Our dinnerware and tabletop pieces are the finest hand painted Italian dinnerware collections from Deruta, Vietra, Amalfi and Faenza. Each piece is double fired, durable and 100% food-safe and complies with FDA standards.