What is the difference between majolica and maiolica?

In these listings the spelling separates two kinds of pottery. Majolica means the colourful lead-glazed ware moulded in relief, introduced in England in the mid-19th century and taken up across Europe. Maiolica, with the i, means Italian tin-glazed earthenware, painted rather than moulded. Faience is the French term for the same tin-glazed body and appears in 10 titles.

Which forms turn up most often?

Jardinieres and their stands, and dishes, lead the titles. The jardiniere-on-stand and the cheese dome recur more than any other single object. Beyond those, the table forms are specialised: sardine boxes, asparagus cradles, strawberry servers with napkin rings, oyster plates, game pie dishes and spittoons all appear.

How old is most antique majolica?

Most of it is placed in the 19th century. 'Victorian' and '19th Century' are the two commonest dating labels by a wide margin, and where a decade is given the 1880s lead, followed by the 1890s and 1900s. The listings that carry a clean year run from 1859 to 1940. A handful sit in the 18th century, and those belong to the Italian tin-glazed side.

Are jardinieres usually sold with their stands?

Often, and the title says so when they are. 'Stand' appears in 28 titles against 35 for 'jardiniere', so a good number come as the pair. The complete jardiniere and stand sits higher in the range than the bowl on its own.

What are the largest majolica pieces?

Garden seats, conservatory seats, pedestal jardinieres and umbrella stands. These are the biggest things in the category by some distance. The word 'large' turns up in 43 titles, nearly one in five, and 'huge', 'monumental' and 'massive' recur among the higher-priced ones.

Which countries made the majolica listed here?

England dominates, then France and Italy. Titles also name Portugal, Austria, Bohemia, Scotland and Australia, with the Australian and Portuguese pieces showing up only once or twice. French entries include Gien and Sarreguemines pieces; the Italian ones include Savona and Naples wares alongside pharmacy jars and chargers.