majolica

noun

ma·​jol·​i·​ca mə-ˈjä-li-kə How to pronounce majolica (audio)
variants or less commonly maiolica
1
: earthenware covered with an opaque tin glaze and decorated on the glaze before firing
especially : an Italian ware of this kind
2
: a 19th century earthenware modeled in naturalistic shapes and glazed in lively colors

Examples of majolica in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Paris dealer Christophe de Quenetain is offering a majolica dish from 1525 from the celebrated, exquisite Calini service made by Nicola da Urbino. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 11 Mar. 2020 Matte-finish tiles were printed with motifs referencing centuries-old intarsia and majolica patterns, and designers liked the idea of using them in contemporary spaces. Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2019 Sourcing inspiration from Italian designer Gio Ponti’s ceramic majolica tiles, Brooklinen and The Inside played with color and geometry to produce a collection of luxe sheets for every design style. Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, 25 Apr. 2019 Olérys and Laugier manufactory sugar castor from Moustiers (c. 1750) Photo: Sidney R. Knafel Collection French faience has its roots in Italy, its name derived from the northern Italian city Faenza, an important producer of majolica. Barrymore Laurence Scherer, WSJ, 1 Jan. 2019 Lining two of the showroom’s exterior courtyard walls are various tiles, both custom ones by Barthel and 19th-century majolica. Maria Shollenbarger, ELLE Decor, 18 Oct. 2018 The collection includes medieval and Renaissance paintings, majolica ceramics, and the Iguvine Tables, a set of seven ancient bronze tablets inscribed in the Umbrian language. Laura Itzkowitz, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2018 Professor Ernesto Solari worked with handwriting expert Ivana Bonfantino to analyze the majolica tile. James Rogers, Fox News, 22 June 2018 On view are eight life-size figurative sculptures made of high-density foam, eleven collage mirror paintings, and one large, all white majolica figure made in the famous Nymphenburg porcelain factory in Munich. Vogue, 13 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'majolica.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian maiolica, from Old Italian Maiolica, Maiorica Majorca

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of majolica was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near majolica

Cite this Entry

“Majolica.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/majolica. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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