hsifeng | Sotheby’s and my MIL are conspiring to get me thinking about Majolica again… (Reply)

Yesterday I went on an image collecting spree in the new Sotheby's catalogue. No, it wasn't paintings (not in the traditional sense anyway) I was after. Yesterdays catalogue was chock-full of lovely majolica pieces. What is majolica you ask? Well, here are some lovely historical examples based on what I had just pilfered via the interwebz...

PIATTO IN MAIOLICA LUSTRATO A ORO DERUTA, CIRCA 1530

A DERUTA 'EACKOPS' FEATHERS LUSTRED IN GUBBIO DISH, SECOND QUARTER OF 16TH CENTURY

A RARE DERUTA ARMORIAL DISH, SECOND QUARTER OF 16TH CENTURY

A DERUTA MANCINI'S WORKSHOP ISTORIATO PLATE DATED 1556
The subject represents the proverb: ' It is useless to wash the head of an ass, that is lost hard work to make and only to the benefit of the ingrate'.

A DERUTA DISH, FIRST HALF 16TH CENTURY

A DERUTA DISH, FIRST HALF 16TH CENTURY

A GUBBIO LUSTRED PLATE, MAESTRO GIORGIO, CIRCA 1530-40
I find this to be an interesting motif - especially because it is used in my wedding ring (copied from this original). I generally have to explain to people that this image pre-dates the Claddagh and can be found used by Romans as a symbol of the marriage contract being enacted between two families.

A PAIR OF URBINO FLASKS, WORKSHOP OF ORAZIO FONTANA OR GUIDO MERLINO, URBINO, CIRCA 1540-50

Details

I guess the question might be, “But, you like playing ‘German’ out at historical events. What’s with the Italian fetish?” Well, I love pottery – must remember to post images of reproduction stoneware horde when digital camera is functioning – and I grew up travelling in Mexico when I was a kid, where my own mom collected gobs of ceramics that are painted in a very similar style: Alternating patterns of floral sprays with blue vine, bold boarders and shells/scales along the edges; the ornate images centered on the plates; the use of a minimal number of colors to create a maximum effect (bold graphics). I just love it!

Historically, this sort of ceramic was traded all over and I think I might be able to justify a piece or two in my German Hausfrau collection so long as they aren’t *too* over the top. Time to go on a hunt for something I can afford, or perhaps I need to ask my mom to look for some while she is in Mexico this year...then again I already have the women shlepping a nice hammock back for me this trip. *looks thoughtful*

Given that I don’t normally go in for anything as ‘flashy’ as this look (*insert droll remark about being a Landsknecht camp follower and how that proves I really just want to dress like ‘Vegas Barbie’ on my days off…*) I would have to say I don’t really have an answer for why this stuff draws me so.

I just like it.

*grin*

Then again, it could just be my super-secret desire to run away and join the Italian Commedia trying to reassert itself...

The follow up to all this 'Majolica Dreaming' was my mother-in-law calling this morning to remind us that we could reach her on her trip to Italy via her cell phone. I had to refrain from asking her to take a spare bag and raid a local museum before heading back. *le sigh*