Case with majolica pottery plates and a fish vase

Natural Whimsy: Selections from the Marion E. Byrd Collection

Jan. 15–March 24, 2019
Forsyth Galleries, MSC 2428

This exhibit showcases nineteenth-century American and European “majolica,” brightly glazed ceramic ware well known for its depiction of naturalistic scenes, folk themes, exotic motifs and wild combinations of elements. Majolica was the perfect ceramic for the Victorian era. Its rich colors, eclectic mix of styles, and dramatic or whimsical modeling appealed to the nineteenth-century audience, which reveled in decorative arts that displayed technical skill and elaborate design.