Majolica stools served as garden seats

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May means warmer weather, flowers blooming and more time spent outdoors, especially in the garden. It’s a place to sit, relax and enjoy the view of your beautiful plants and the birds and butterflies they attract.

Garden seats have been used for centuries. Early garden seats in China, called zuodun, literally “a block to sit on,” were shaped like barrels with a stretched skin top held in place with nails. Later garden seats were made of porcelain but had the same barrel shape and featured decorative rows of bumps to resemble the old nail heads.

This majolica stool was made in the 20th century. It is square instead of the antique barrel shape but still shows the influence of the 19th-century style. (Bunch Auctions photo)

In 19th-century Europe and America, majolica, an earthenware pottery with thick, colorful tin glaze, was a popular material for garden seats, planters and other garden furnishings. They often had three-dimensional nature-themed decorations. However, majolica is fragile, prone to chipping and cracking, so it should be brought inside during inclement weather or kept indoors. Victorians often kept majolica pieces in conservatories, or greenhouses, so they could be part of a nature setting without being exposed to the elements.

Majolica stools are still sought as decorative items. This one that sold for $160 at Bunch Auctions was made in the 20th century, but shares the vivid colors and three-dimensional decorations of its Victorian predecessors.

Q: I have several copperware casseroles that have worn spots and probably need to be re-tinned. How can I find a place to get this done without needing to ship them? Is it dangerous to use these pieces as they are?

A: Don’t use the casseroles if the tin lining is worn off. Direct contact with tomatoes or other acidic food can cause small amounts of copper to leach into the food. If you live near a big city, you might find a local metal repair shop that does re-tinning. If there is no one near you, you can find other places online. The company that made the copperware, or a store near you that sells similar pieces, might be able to recommend someone who does re-tinning. If you can’t get the pieces re-tinned, just use them as display items.

TIP: Set heavy garden urns or statues on a foundation, usually a cement block set in the ground.

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Map, West Indies, Caribbean Sea, inset with Bermuda, decorative border, hand colored, engraved by D.G. Johnson, published by A.J. Johnson, New York, giltwood frame, c. 1880, 24 1/2 x 30 1/2 inches, $255.
Scientific instrument, compass with sundial, brass, pocket style, adjustable gnomon and latitude arm, outer ring marked Troughton & Simms, England, 1800s, fitted leather case, closed dial 3/4 x 2 5/8 inches, $575.

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