Majolica, spelled Maiolica in Italian, the tin-oxide-glazed, painted earthenware pottery of Italy, reached a summit of artistic quality during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Majolica resulted from the grafting of the Islamic ceramic tradition of tin-glazing onto
the ancient traditions of native Italian pottery.
This occurred early in the 15th century, when sophisticated Hispano-Moresque wares from Valencia were imitated by Italian potters. The name majolica is derived from the island of Majorca, the headquarters of trading vessels sailing between Spanish and Italian ports.

One of the principal Italian centers of majolica production, the town of Faenza,
later gave its name to the French term for the ware, faience.

The molded or thrown clay piece was given a first, or "bisque" firing, then covered with an opaque lead- and tin-oxide glaze. (Leadless glazes are the standard for contemporary majolica potters, however.) Decorations were painted on the dry glaze, and a second firing fused both glaze and decoration to an even, glossy surface. This direct painting technique led to vigorous designs and novel imagery, producing some of the most delightful and artistically satisfying creations in European ceramic history.