Italian Made Fruit Platter, is it Majolica?

I know this isn't antique, but like to know opinions as to whether majolica or not. It was suggested to me that it may be majolica, but my feeling is it isn't. It dates definitely to before 1960 to possibly the 1940s (?).

15¾" diameter, heavy. White with fruit, vines and foliage. The fruit seems to be grapes, peaches, cherries and possibly black olives? on the lower right. Each fruit, vine and foliage is very very slightly raised or more aptly described has being ridged with the ridges outlined. Marked in red on the back "1701 Hand.Painted Italy."

BTW, are those 2 black olives on the lower right? The leaves don't look quite right for olive tree leaves but they don't seem to be grapes or black cherries.

TIA.

--- Susan

Gee, I wanted to have only 1 large pic with the rest thumbnails that enlarge on clicking. This would be done by the "Upload a File" button. That button would not work this morning for me. I ended up having to upload these image files to one of my websites and then use the "Image" button on the reply tool bar.



Close-up:

 

Don't know a thing, just waving to you. Hope you're well~~~~~~~~

 

Copy and paste does it for me.

Attractive plate but not what I'd call majolica or even a modern rendition of maiolica

 

Back at you, Sue! All is well in my corner of the world and hoping the same with you and yours.

--- Susan

 

Forgot about that. I remember you talking about C/P back on eBay; however, had a hard time getting that to work for me then. Welll just tried it on the above waving hand *.gif and it worked!! C/P never worked this well for me on the eBay boards. Thanks for the suggestion again.

>Attractive plate but not what I'd call majolica or even a modern rendition of maiolica<

Thank you! As I was very uneasy about that majolica suggestion, I wanted a more knowledgeable opinion(s) than mine.

--- Susan

 

Hi Susan,
I think they are plums
greg

 

That's my vote also.

Whoops, when replying I saw the link called Quote and clicked it and got a message that it was added to something called "Multi-Quote." I wonder where it went.

Fig

 

>That's my vote also.<

Thank you Greg and Fig! The leaves were throwing me. They do look like plums.

--- Susan

 

Whoops, when replying I saw the link called Quote and clicked it and got a message that it was added to something called "Multi-Quote." I wonder where it went.

After hitting that you get a new tab toward the left of the reply box, Insert Quote.

The quoting posts process seems to have been overhauled, but I'll stick with copy, paste and italic.

 

The plate is not an example of the process known as majolica. It is glazed earthenware decorated with a technique known as "Sgraffito" (Scratch). It was first used in the 11th century and has, from time to time, seen a revival of the art form. When a piece has been air dried to a leathery consistency (before being fired in a kiln) a layer of liquified clay, known as slip, is applied overall to the item, in this case a plate. The slip is allowed to dry naturally and then a second coat of slip, usually a different color from the first coat, is applied. When this second coat has dried to the touch a design is carved or scratched into the surface with a stylus or other pointed object. This will reveal the undercoat of the differently colored slip. The plate is then decorated with various colored glazes or paints and finally fired in the kiln.
Majolica,or more correctly maiolica (maioliche in Italian) is a completely different process.

 

Hi Walter,
Thank you for the details on this technic. I knew it was Sgraffito but I did know about the several layers drying first.
greg

 

Wow.. thank you, Walter, for a great explanation of this type of pottery/earthenware. I have copied...saved your reply. I had heard of "Sgraffito," but didn't really know what it was. Just about everyday I have had the privilage of learning something new on these antique boards/forums and this is certainly the item for today. Again, thank you....

--- Susan

 

Are the lines around the fruit scratched into the surface or raised? If they are raised, I don't think it's sgraffito. Look at plates by Creation Luciano Salerno to see what I mean.

 

Scratched into the surface. In my original post I used the word ridged. I should have said grooved. I just now looked at "CREAZIONI LUCIANO SALERNO ITALY" on eBay. This platter/tray or whatever isn't that. Thanks for the suggestion.

--- Susan