Mediterranean Folk Ceramics

• Colourful ceramic objects and tiles were very popular in many Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Sicily and Spain.  

• The Arabs had invaded these countries and had introduced their pottery skills to the people.

• The Arabs had introduced the tin-glaze technique to Europe.

• The most common objects produced were tiles,dishes,plates, vases and tall drug jars. They are usually colourful and have a lot of patterns. The designs were mainly fruit and flower motifs and swirling patterns. 

• The colours of lemon yellow,blues, earthen yellow, red, green and white background were popular colours.
                                                                        

• There is a difference between pottery made before and after the Industrial Revolution in the 1800's

• Hand- made pottery is never the same ( decorative & process).

• The machine made were all identical and had the factory smooth finish.

• The level of style & crafts fell after the great exhbition of 1851 (London).

                                


    Maltese Pottery

• In Malta clay and terracotta objects of everyday use were made locally such as pots, pans, jars, candle holders and plates. These were very plain and not coloured.

Handmade water jar used to get water form the well

Hand made Foot Warmer

They put hot water in the vessel to keep them warm in bed

                                 

                            Sicilian ceramics   

The Sicilian ceramics are more decorative and colourful.

19th century ceramic tiles

Floor tile

                                                     19th century Moorish Heads

These are ceramic Moorish Heads. They are made in Caltagirone near Catania. The heads of a male or female. They are true symbols of Sicilian folklore.

These pots are used as plant holders and are placed outside the houses in the town.

                     19th century Jars

 

 

 

Albarello (drug Jar)

Plates

19th century Majolica plate

This is an example of tin glaze technique. A tin -base glaze is applied to the earthenware which is white. The white glaze makes it easy to apply the coloured glaze.

                        African Ceramics and Pottery

Water Vessel

Africa water vessels were worn by women on their backs to fetch water from wells and springs and store and a museum Africa in there homes.

'Kabyle' double vessel from Algeria

This is a vessel from Algeria. They knew how to use wheel pottery. Algerian women coil and decorate pottery with geometric designs. They still use and make pottery to sell and use at home. 

'Kabyle' Pigment Vessel

This is an other vessel work by an Algerian artist. This is a ceramic vessel painted with natural dyes. The women paint using there fingers.It has a spout of a shape of a camel head.

       

Kwazulu Earthenware pot  19th century used  for Beer Drinking

V&A Museum London

Wine or water vessel

Congo or Angola vessel for palm wine or water.  19th century ceramics

African wall tiles

Turkish wall tiles

Colours may be symbolic such as the green is the sacred colour of Islam

The differences between Sicily and African ceramics. Sicilian ceramics have a colourful tone on a white base and the patterns are floral shapes and curved designs. The African objects has dark earthen tones,and geometric patterns some are very plain. The Mediterranean and African tiles have a repetitive pattern of shapes, flowers,curves and fruit they are both colourful. They both have vessels for the water. The African ones have human head or animal heads as a decoration. While the Mediterranean only have handles. 

Earrings design inspired from the Moorish heads by 

Dolce & Gabbana

Dress inspired by Moorish patterns by Dolce &Gabbana

Costume Jewellery 

Boho Jewellery. This pendant is inspired by a Mediterranean ceramic tile design. It has a floral design with turquoise colours typical of the Spanish tiles. This is an example of folk art in jewellery being sold today.

Harvard System

Website
Swide. 2015. the Moorish Head. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.swide.com/art-culture/sicilian-ceramic-moorish-heads-history-of-the-iconic-caltagirone-vases/2015/05/01. [Accessed 16 May 15].
Best of sicily. 2010. Sicilian Ceramic Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.bestofsicily.com/ceramic.htm. [Accessed 16 May 15].
Encyclopaedia Britannica . 2015. Pottery. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/472867/pottery/73890/19th-century. [Accessed 16 May 15].

Books
Lanfranco,G (2002). Xoghol,Gahgih u Snajja li spiccaw. Malta: Bieb Bieb. 
Lanfranco,G (2004). Hajjitna Fl-Imghoddi. Malta: Bieb Bieb.