Majolica, << muh JOL uh kuh or muh YOL uh kuh, >> is a type of pottery glazed with tin oxide to produce a soft white color. The name is sometimes spelled maiolica. Designs are painted on the white background with other metallic oxides. These oxides turn various colors on the background when the pottery is fired (baked).
Majolica is named for the Spanish island of Majorca, where pottery was exported to Italy. Spanish potters began exporting majolica to Italy in the mid-1400’s. Centers for producing the pottery arose throughout Italy.
The word majolica should be used only to describe Italian tin oxide-glazed pottery. But the term is also used to refer to the elaborately molded pottery that has been chiefly made in England since the mid-1800’s. However, unlike true majolica, most of this pottery is coated with a lead glaze and is generally larger and more decorative than true majolica.
