MAJOLICA FAIENCE BARBOTINE

When talking about decorative ceramics, you’ll often hear the terms Majolica, Faience, and Barbotine—and while they’re all related, they each have their own style and technique.

Majolica is a type of tin-glazed pottery that took off during the Italian Renaissance. It's known for its bright, bold colors and glossy finish. The decoration is usually hand-painted over a white, opaque glaze, which helps the colors pop. Italian Majolica often features detailed scenes, floral motifs, or classical themes.

Faience is essentially the French (and broader European) version of tin-glazed earthenware. It shares a lot with Majolica in terms of materials and glazing techniques, but the style is often different—think softer color palettes, more delicate patterns, and sometimes a bit more refinement in the decoration. Faience was especially popular in France, with famous production centers like Quimper, Rouen, and Moustiers.

Barbotine, on the other hand, isn’t a type of pottery but a decorating technique. Instead of painting on designs, artists use a thick slip (liquid clay) to build up raised, textured designs—almost like piping cake icing. Barbotine can be found on both Majolica and Faience pieces, especially in 19th-century French ceramics. It gives pottery a sculptural, more three-dimensional look and feel.