Much of medieval and Italian pottery was heavily decorated.  Two decorative techniques were used. The first consisted of painting designs with colored oxides on the surface of a white tin-oxide containing glaze (Maiolica).  Hispano-Moresque tin-glazed pottery was imported into Italy through the island of Majorica; as a result, this style of pottery is called Maiolica. To compete with the imports, Italian potters began producing Maiolica in the 13th and 14th centuries (brief Maiolica History).  As Moorish potters migrated to Italy, the decorative styles of Italian potters evolved from the green and brown decoration of the Archaic-style of Medieval times to the bright colors of the early Renaissance.  Another type of Italian decorated pottery is incised slipware (Scraffiato), which is created by scratching through a white slip to reveal the red clay underneath.  Much less Scraffiato ws produced than Maiolica, and it was produced mostly in Northern Italy.  Medieval Mudpies recaptures these historical styles to produce functional and affordable Medieval and Renaissance styled pottery for use today.