Columbia Plain is part of the "Morisco" (Christianized Muslim) ceramic tradition of fifteenth century southwestern Spain, centered around Seville. It is the most frequently encountered majolica type on New World sites of the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Its paste and background enamel characteristics are shared by all of the commonly-occurring decorated Morisco tradition majolica types found in the Americas, including Yayal B/W, Santo Domingo Blue on White, Isabela Polychrome, Santa Elena Mottled). Certain formal characteristics sometimes help distinguish between "early" (pre-1550) and "late" (post-1550) Columbia Plain, such as a raised "dimple" in the center of a concave base, and variously shaped appliqued appendages. Ring feet are more common after 1550, although not exclusive to that period.

This description of Columbia Plain comes from the Historical Archaeology Digital Ceramic Type Collection maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Light cream to buff, occasionally pink, paste color with a soft, chalky clay texture.  Off-white, cream, or grayish-white tin enamel, usually covers both sides of the vessel. The quality of the enamel varies widely among vessels, from thin, irregular and shiny, to thick, matte and smooth. Appliquéd appendages sometimes occur on early examples, most often vertical I-shaped handles or everted, scalloped lugs.