Majolica
So my ceramic work is known to be brown. It’s not that I don’t like color, but the processes and glazes I have been drawn to in the past have leaned toward an earth-tone aesthetic. Well, all that’s about to change (at least in one aspect)…
Recently I have been testing out majolica glaze on earthenware. Here is a small, horribly photographed sample of what it looks like (along with an example I’ll refer to below):
Majolica, or maiolica, is a glazing technique that was started during roughly the 1500s as a cheaper alternative to Chinese porcelain, which Westerners could not produce due to insufficient kiln technology. In other words, the Europeans of the time couldn’t get the kiln hot enough. Majolica is tin-glazed earthenware. Tin is an opacifier which turns the glaze white, and often colorants like cobalt blue were used to paint narratives and figurative scenes on the pieces.
At this point in my testing process I’m trying to get rid of the white spots in the picture above. Technically they are a defect, though many people actually like how they look. The colorants are painted on in a similar way to watercolors, though they don’t flow as easily, and you can scratch through the colors to the white glaze for any sort of drawn, linear elements.
My work is increasingly leading me back to the figure, and I’m looking into using narrative as a vehicle to explore contemporary themes. I’m not quite sure how majolica will come into play, but I’ve been thinking about the more sculptural elements of my work as forms on which to portray the figure and any sort of narrative. I’ve been looking at the della robbias, a family of Renaissance ceramicists who have used majolica on figurative sculpture. The sculpture above is an example of their work.
Apparently, you can see sculptures like this all over Italy, and it is made out of tin-glazed earthenware. Now, my work will of course look very different, but I’m interested in how they employ the figure and narrative as well as their use of the majolica technique.
As soon as I actually have some finished work I’ll get pictures and post them.
Very interesting article and work here. The cups are pretty amazing in detail and color. I especially like the bamboo cup and also find the white spots quite beautiful – looks like snow falling! As usual I am impressed and always anxious to see more of your work. Do you mind if I place a link to your blog on my facebook page??
The bamboo cup is MINE! I love this new direction/exploration in your work.