Majolica Origins

In honor of securing my first ever shipment from Italy, here's a little background on Italian ceramics...

Most of what we know today of Italian ceramics is called majolica (or maiolica in Italian). The process was created in the 6th century by the Arabs, who discovered that glazing ceramics with a mineral oxide mixture made them impervious to water once fired. Once decorated and fired again, this process produced beautiful, smooth pieces, similar to porcelain.

As the Arabs moved westward, majolica followed. It got its name from the misconception that it originated on the Spanish island of Majorca. Actually, the ceramics was only shipped through the port of Majorca on its way west.

Majolica making in Italy dates to the 13th century, when it was meant to be primarily utilitarian and was decorated with abstract and geometric patterns. In the 15th century, the patterns started depicting people and animals and by the 16th century, it also became popular to have dinnerware designed with the family crest.

Today's majolica continues to be made and decorated by hand, making each piece a unique work of art. Here's a small sampling of the majolica that I'll be receiving in the next 5-6 weeks. I cannot wait!

Montelupo Fiorentina

Montelupo is the little town from which I'm importing my Italian ceramics. It's really close to Florence (the easiest way to get there is a 20 minute train that leaves every half hour from the main Florence station). Unlike Deruta where the majority of Italian ceramics is made, the pieces I've found in Montelupo seem more elegant and individualized.

There are many workshops in Montelupo creating traditional maiolica patterns, just as they did during the Renaissance. Apparently, it was during the Renaissance that decorative ceramics began to be considered high art.

Minimalism at the Table

So this is what I call modern tableware. Andy Shaw creates beautifully usable art that I love, in spite of the fact that it couldn't be farther removed from the Italian, Spanish, and French pottery that I'm importing.

He takes minimalism and functionality very seriously:
"In my pottery, I examine this format of vacancy and the tenuous balance it requires of the viewer-participant in establishing completion. Knowing that the porcelain will become active components within someone’s home, I design each piece so that it can adapt to place and to the personal preferences of the homeowner. In my studio I resist the artistic impulse to create overall resolution and completion, opting instead to leave room for improvisation by the cook whose own need for creative resolution is just as necessary as mine. By leaving the glaze color neutral, cooks recognize the invitation for a spinach, strawberry and almond salad or perhaps for a grilled turkey club panini with purple onion. In this way, color is not a fixed quality in the pottery, allowing it to have an active role in daily kitchen creations.

In order for a pot to be functional it must be used. As the potter I design the porcelain with opportunities for the addition of color and the complement of other objects and patterns as an invitation to the homeowner to incorporate the porcelain into their active home lifestyle. These purposefully designed thematic openings promote substantial connections between the pottery and its audience by drawing out practical and aesthetic utility within an advocacy for creative living."
(http://www.theclaystudio.org/exhibitions/shaw.php)

In my opinion, there's room for minimalism as well as more decorative and colorful tableware. Don't get me wrong, I believe in a simple background for showing off bright and complex foods. But there are other times when food presentation can be improved upon by the dish in which it's served. Imagine a simple pesto pasta, chips and salsa, asparagus, corn on the cob, or a fruit salad. Really, I think just about any food is given a new look depending on the dish in which you serve it. That isn't to say a spinach salad isn't set off perfectly in a simple white bowl by Andy Shaw... it simply creates a different feel than the same salad served in a blue and yellow Italian-style dish.

What Do Women Want?

It's a common question... among men and among marketers. Women, after all, control the majority of household spending money and their tastes (both in men and in retail) can be difficult to discern. I'm now finding myself asking this same question, as I decide what pottery and ceramics to invest in for my budding little business. I'm suddenly really curious what brides are looking for (ie, registering for) these days? What do friends and family of the bride and groom really want to give them? What about busy moms... what are their needs in the kitchen and dining room? Are they interested in novelty serving dishes or do they just want something that's cheap and sturdy? And then there is the older generation... the 50+ crowd who may be downsizing their home or they may be building a new home, looking for unique pieces of artwork that reflect their sophisticated tastes.

Then there's the question of style. Do people these days want modern and minimal or colorful and eclectic? Are they excited to collect artwork from around the world or are they more comfortable with the Crate&Barrel and Ikea basics?

I guess the reality is that not all women have the same taste. We know this is true of the men they date and I'm sure the same goes for the plates on which they serve dinner. Plus, I really can't discount men. After all, I know more than a few guys who are quite passionate about cooking and entertaining.

But amidst all this ambiguity, there must be some trends that overshadow the others... some current and overriding styles in tableware that would help me be a more informed buyer. Any and all thoughts on what's en vogue in the ceramic, pottery, tableware, or kitchen world would be much appreciated! Especially as it applies to specific ages/life stages of women... and men for that sake.

Just Found!

I came across this great website with lots of historic information on antique pottery. Check it out: http://www.architecturals.net/antiques/home.cfm?page=subcats&CategoryID=85