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Italian Pottery
   Medieval Maiolica
  (13th-14th century)
   Transitional Maiolica
  (early 15h century)
   Zaffera in relievo
  (mid 15th century)
   Late Severe Style
(late 15th century)
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Medieval Italian Pottery (Archaic Maiolica)

Medieval Italian pottery was decorated by painting designs with colored oxides on the surface of a white tin-oxide containing glaze (Maiolica). Early decorative Italian pottery had a limited color plate, copper (green) and manganese (brown) were the only colors available. Typically because of the expense of tin-oxide the undecorated areas (inside jugs and outside bowls) are glazed with a transparent yellow/brown glaze. Pottery of this period was primarily domestic ware, consisting of jugs, ewers, small bowls, cups, and plates. Scroll leaf designs, fish, birds, and cross-hatching were common decorative motifs. Centers for archaic maiolica were located in Tuscany and Umbria. Below are some reproductions of archiac maiolica.

Large bowl with flowers $75.00 (probably Umbria, 1275-1350) Flowers and extensive cross-hatching are is typical of the designs from this period. Source: Italian maiolica and incised slipware in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge Julia E. Poole; 1995, University of Cambridge.
	Large Queen Bowl $75.00 Italian Archaic Maiolica (probably Umbria) In the middle of this large bowl, a woman stands between rampant antelopes. Her crown may denote royalty, but an allegorical meaning is also possible, in which case the woman may represent temperance. Source: Italian maiolica and incised slipware in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge Julia E. Poole; 1995, University of Cambridge. museum example
Two-handled cups $20.00 each (Florence, 14^th century) Small two-handled cups with simple designs were fairly common. I have made a bunch of these, and I always have a few in stock. The fish and bird to the right are just examples, abstract designs are also common. Just email me and I will see what I have or if you want a particular design, I will be hppy to make it. Source: : Storia della maiolica di Firenze e del contado secoli XIV e XV, 2 vols. Galeazzo Cora, 1973.