  Majolica is a tradition of Italian ceramic pottery. The tin-glazed earthenware has origins which date as far back as the 12th Century. These pieces are molded from clay, fired at a low temperature, glazed, and painted. Mostly done by hand, the majolica technique is still practiced in several areas of Italy, each bringing their own extraordinary regional and historical flare to the art form. In the universe of Italian ceramics, majolica is one of the most time-honored disciplines and its pottery is some of the most sought-after dinnerware around the world.
Tin-glazing creates an opaque white finish to the earthen clay which becomes like a blank canvas for the artist. Traditionally, cobalt and copper oxides were mixed together to decorate the clay, which produce brilliant colors when fired. Low temperature firing gives the oxides time to set and develop with the stoic white glaze, producing radiant color and shine. It is a more controlled technique than its ceramic pottery counterparts, which often hinge on the unexpected results of chemical flashing from high heat. Potters and ceramic artists all over Italy embraced these characteristics and developed a legacy of producing fine Italian dinnerware which has endured for centuries.
Many of these earlier pieces are noted for their incredibly life-like polychromatic paintings. Italian ceramic pottery from this era stood out not only because it was fetching, but because it could also tell a story. As time progressed, many different oxides were mixed and pigment-based paints were introduced, causing the color palate to explode with possibilities. The Arabesques of Eastern influence can be seen on dinnerware from Italy and are wrought with vibrant colors and fused with native Italian motifs. The lustrous fruits of Sicily and vineyards of Tuscany imbued with life as decorative garlands gracing the curvatures of hand-molded plates and bowls; gorgeous specimens of Italian ceramic dinnerware.
 
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