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Italian Maiolica

Collection Info
Italian Maiolica

Italian maiolica is one of the most sophisticated and refined ceramics produced in Renaissance Europe. Maiolica is tin-glazed earthenware, a technique which involved the addition of ashes of tin to a lead glaze in order to create an opaque white background for decoration. Originating in the ninth century in present-day Iraq, the technique spread throughout the Islamic world, reaching Southern Spain by the twelfth century, before establishing itself firmly in Italy in the fourteenth century.

One of the greatest artistic achievements of the Italian Renaissance, maiolica played important roles in the social and domestic lives of individuals. Ceramics held multiple functions; while some objects were deeply embedded in the humanist culture of the time, others served to commemorate important events, such as marriage and birth. Apothecaries also stimulated the maiolica industry with large commissions of pharmaceutical wares.

Istoriato, or narrative painting, represents the most ambitious stylistic development in the history of maiolica. Istoriato wares were decorated with scenes derived from ancient texts, mythology, as well as religious sources. The high fashion from around 1500 to about 1570, istoriato was produced in various towns of north-central Italy, with the Duchy of Urbino as the leading centre.

The Italian Renaissance maiolica collection at the Gardiner Museum is the most important in Canada. It forms part of the original donation made by George and Helen Gardiner.

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Tazza with musical scene
Artist / Maker: Unknown Artist
17th - 18th century
Object number: G08.7.8
Tazza with deer and rabbit design
Artist / Maker: Deruta
17th century
Object number: G08.7.9
Large jug with unidentified armorial
c.1500-1525
Object number: G83.1.321
Photographer: Toni Hafkenscheid
c.1535-1550
Object number: G83.1.322
Broad-rimmed dish (Tondino) with cupid and putti
Artist / Maker: Giovanni Maria
c.1505-1525
Object number: G83.1.323
Dish with the Conversion of St. Paul
Artist / Maker: In Castel Durante Painter
c.1525
Object number: G83.1.324
Moulded dish on low foot (tazza) with acorn design
c.1525-1545
Object number: G83.1.325
Dish with Jupiter and Venus
Artist / Maker: Apollo Basin Painter
1532
Object number: G83.1.326
Moulded trefoil footed dish
c.1535
Object number: G83.1.327
Broad-rimmed dish (tondino) with armorial
Artist / Maker: Castel Durante
c.1540-1550
Object number: G83.1.328
Broad-rimmed dish (tondino) with trophies
c.1550-1560
Object number: G83.1.330
Dish with scene of the Sacrifice of Marcus Curtius
c.1560-1610
Object number: G83.1.331
Plate with scene from the story of Icarus
Artist / Maker: Franco Xanto Avelli
c.1525-27
Object number: G83.1.333
Dish with Two Lovers
Artist / Maker: Giacomo Mancini
c.1520-50
Object number: G83.1.334
Dish with the Incredulity of St Thomas
c.1500-1530
Object number: G83.1.335
Dish with an Idealized Portrait
c.1500-1530
Object number: G83.1.336
Two-handled vase with palmette motif
c.1500-1550
Object number: G83.1.337
Dish with the arms of Farnese
c.1550-1580 or later
Object number: G83.1.338
Dish with the arms of Pope Clement VII (1523-1534)
Artist / Maker: Giacomo Mancini
c.1530-1560 or later
Object number: G83.1.339
Basin with Clasped Hands Motif
c.1500-1530
Object number: G83.1.340
Dish with Sphinx supporting an armorial shield
c.1500-1530
Object number: G83.1.341
Dish with portrait of Lysander
c.1520-1530
Object number: G83.1.342
Footed dish
c.1500-1530
Object number: G83.1.343