As we saw in Part 1, insects are a frequent component of majolica designs. Unlike butterflies and moths, flies, dragonflies, beetles and such are more often than not just a tiny addition to a design with other subjects as the main focus. There are some noticeable and stunning exceptions however.
The gigantic grasshoppers from the Massier pottery are probably the most extraordinary examples of insects in majolica. In the Judaeo Christian Bible grasshoppers are a metaphor for the insignificance of man. The Massier grasshoppers are anything but insignificant. Their large size and detailed modeling can only be described as a tour de force of the potter’s art.
This St. Clement pitcher is equally impressive.
Flies haven't got the best reputation among insects but this fly match box made by Wedgwood is a fanciful expression of the Aesthetic Movement as is this palissy toothpick holder; two Tropic plates by Wedgwood; and a rare Holdcroft apple teapot.
The noisy cicada has a long history of representation in majolica beginning in the 1880s with Massier Sarreguemines and Cunha and continuing into the Twentieth century with Louis Sicard, sometimes called "the father of the cicadas," and Villaurus. These were mostly used as wall pockets but in time the form expanded to vases, clocks and wall and table top decoration as souvenirs for visitors to France.
The ubiquitous beetle is found in majolica in plenty though usually in support of some other focus of decoration, generally as a tasty meal for a bird or reptile as in these Jones vases and this Choisy-le-Roi cockatoo, but they also appeared on jugs by Caldas, wall pockets by Sarreguemines, Mafra and Fives Lille, jardinieres and plates.
This scarab box by Schiller & Son is clearly influenced by the European fascination with all things Egyptian. It has a stylized beetle on top and faux hieroglyphs around the sides
The elegant dragonfly, which became a symbol of the Art Nouveau movement, appeared in many forms on majolica. Hautin Boulanger's dragonfly handled server is a standout as is George Jones' pond lily cheese bell and garden seat. There is also Royal Doulton's dragonfly card tray and Minton's vase with dragonflies as well as numerous other insects.
I have also always loved the design of this plain dragonfly and pond lily plate and these Wedgwood pieces: the
Lincoln pattern jug and platter and the Argenta
Tropic pattern plate.
Of course there are numerous wall pockets by Fives Lille and Sarreguemines.
There are the wonderful fan dessert dishes from Shorter & Bolton, later copied by Willets of Trenton, NJ; a Wedgwood transfer plate and this bold continental jardiniere most likely from Czechoslovakia.
Then we have bees! A bee wall pocket from Sarreguemines; another Wedgwood Tropic plate with bees on a pomegranate; a honey pot from George Jones and two different honey pots from Minton.
Here we have two cute ladybug wall pockets, one by Fives Lille and one from Sarreguemines.
There are also numerous uses of generic insects by all the potteries that would take an entomologist to identify, starting with a Jones jam pot and vase; a Fielding oyster dish; a Caldas plaque; a Jones strawberry server; a French Palissy plaque, and a Minton tile.
A wonderful Mafra reptile plaque; a pair of Minton jardinieres; a Minton tile and box; an elegant Christopher Dresser Minton vase, and a rustic jardiniere.
Finally we'll finish with these charming continental jardinieres with anthropomorphic insects playing musical instruments. How can you beat that!
