An important technical development of the 2nd century was relief applied in barbotine, slip laid on by piping, which seems to have been a German innovation. (Today this technique is known as slip-trailing.) It was also about this time that lead glazes came into widespread use.

Until the 15th century, there was little advancement in ceramic technique throughout Europe. The Dark Ages were particularly dim in connection with pottery-making. Vessels were made for use and not for show. They were clumsily fashioned of any local clay, and if glazed at all then only with coarse lead glazes colored dull yellow or green. In no case was the workmanship above the level of the itinerant brick- or tile-maker. The best work of this 1300-year drought is found in the Gothic tile pavements of France, Germany and England.

As early as the 12th century, however, the superior artistic pottery of the Moslem nations attracted the notice of Europeans as an article of luxury for the rich. Saracen potters were often imported and patronized by wealthy connoisseurs in Italy and France.

Italian maiolica bowl from 15th century is deep, with vertical collar and flaring rim, and on foot. Nearly foonigh Italian maiolica cup was made in Faenza in the late 15th or early 16th century.

When the Moors crossed from North Africa into Spain in the 11th century, they brought with them the know-how which was to make the Iberian Peninsula the ceramic center of the western world. References are found in the writings of the next three centuries to the "golden pottery" of Aragon and Granada. This refers to the lustrous tin-enameled earthenware, painted in metallic colors derived from silver and copper, which is the most famous of the Moorish-Spanish pottery.

In later times the site of manufacture passed to Valencia, from where in the 15th century gorgeous ceramic articles were exported to such distant places as London, Cairo and the Crimea. Potters from every kingdom in Europe pilgrimaged to Spain to learn the secrets introduced by the Moors.

Those who learned best, perhaps, were the Italians. The Renaissance was blossoming forth; all forms of Italian art were progressed painting, sculpture and architecture as well as ceramics. And the Italian pottery of the early Renaissance represented the highest achievement of the potter's art in Europe.

These fine Italian wares are mostly of the type known as maiolica earthenware coated with an opaque tin glaze or enamel as a ground for painted decoration. The name comes from the island of Majorca and was originally a misnomer.

Italian maiolica bowl from 15th century is deep, with vertical collar and flaring rim, and on foot. Nearly foonigh Italian maiolica cup was made in Faenza in the late 15th or early 16th century.

Today, great advancement in technology has brought a great development in ceramic. All over the world, it has become the most used for room decoration.