Gesso Faience Jug by James Macintyre & Co

• Gesso - A mixture of plaster of Paris and gypsum mixed with water and then applied to the carved wooden frames of mirrors and picture frames as a base for applying gold leaf. After numerous coats of gesso have been applied, allowed to dry and then sanded a coat of "bole", a usually red coloured mixture of clay and glue is brushed on and allowed to dry, after which the gold leaf is applied. In painting, gesso is also used to prime a canvas prior to applying paint.
• Faience / Maolica - Originating in ancient Egypt, faience is the name given to tin-enamelled porcelain or earthenware, deriving its name from Faenza in Northern Italy. Also known as maiolica because at one time the wares passed through Majorca. In England, faience / maoilca underwent a revival in the late 19th century by the art potteries set up about that time.
  
  Majolica was the name given to a specific product evolved by Minton in 1851 and introduced at the Great Exhibition. The pottery was coloured with a clear glaze containing metallic oxides.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• Moorcroft MacIntyre - other wares 77
• Moorcroft Pottery (England), item types - jugs and ewers 72