Victorians have the reputation for humorlessness and duty above all, but their pottery and dishes of choice displayed a strong sense of irony and downright whimsy!
Good Times in England
In 1851, England was at the height of its commercial and political power. It was said proudly that the sun never set on the British Empire because the lands and peoples they controlled spread to every corner of the globe. Britain controlled the world’s ship building, banking and transportation industries. The economy was booming, the middle class was growing, and a popular monarch sat on the throne. Trust in England’s great institutions was at an all time high including a love of hearth and home as demonstrated by head Victorians, Queen Vic and her beloved Prince Albert.
Majolica by Minton for a Prosperous Middle Class
Into this happy mix of peace and prosperity, Herbert Minton introduced the British public to majolica at The Crystal Palace Exhibition of the Great Exposition of the Works of Industry of all Nations in 1851. Within a few years, the brilliantly glazed ware had become immensely popular, designed in a variety of wild configurations to appeal to Victorian sensibilities, which seemed to state that not only is less not more, less is not nearly enough.
Those Wacky Victorians
Victorian design philosophy held that the function of a decorative piece was first to attract the eye. After that, it could be acknowledged as useful. If form didn’t follow function, then decoration did, hence the plethora of cheese keepers with complacent cows, and game pie dishes with quail finials.
After years of dinnerware in blue & white, plain white ironstone and creamware, Victorian housewives clamored for the brightly colored and wildly decorated dinnerware and accessories. For those that couldn’t afford fine porcelain, majolica filled the bill. Anyone who supposes that Victorians were lacking in humor hasn’t seen Victorian Majolica., featuring vinegar cruets in the shape of sour faced figures, monkey pitchers, fern decorated mugs complete with tiny frogs nesting on the inside, and biscuit jars with happy mice breaking through the sides to get to the contents.
Science Spurred Designs
Advances in scientific study such as botany, zoology horticulture, and marine biology influenced the majolica manufacturers. Subjects were realistically rendered and as knowledge was gained it showed up in the modeling of the plants and animals on the pieces.
Brilliant Colors for Elaborate Interiors
Majolica, with its bright colors and intense surface decoration was exactly the right kind of accessory to complement the elaborate interiors of the Victorian home. It went well with heavily carved furniture, swagged, layered and tasseled draperies, and looked perfect on dining tables with heavily embossed sliver and deeply cut and etched crystal.
REFERENCES:
The Collectors Encyclopedia of Majolica by Mariann Katz-Marks Collector Books by schroeder Publishing 1992
Majolica A Complete History and Illustrated Survey by Marilyn G. Karmason & Joan B. Stacke 1989 Harry N. Abrams Inc, NY
