Blue Spongeware Bowl | American Antique

Description

An antique American blue spongeware bowl. A classic and well-proportioned piece of American folk pottery.

Dimensions

Why it’s here

Everything in the Homestedt Antiques collection was sourced from rural barns, markets, and dealers across the North East of the United States, England, and Sweden, the same regions that have inspired much of what Homestedt does. These are objects that have already lived a life. They were made by hand, used daily, and have arrived here still doing what they were always meant to do. We collect these pieces because they show the kind of character that comes from decades of use, the evidence of the maker’s hand, and a beauty that adds texture, history and warmth to a home.

What you’re seeing in this collection is just a small selection of our antiques. For the full range of our latest pieces, we recommend a visit to our North Branch, NY location where you’ll find an ever changing collection of pieces that have caught our eye.

About this piece

Blue spongeware is among the most recognisable and beloved of American folk pottery traditions, the bold cobalt blue applied by hand with a sponge over a cream or buff ground, producing a pattern that is regular enough to be decorative and irregular enough to be alive. This bowl is a good, substantial example: well-proportioned, well-preserved, and with a decoration that is as fresh and vivid as the day it was made.

Condition

Good antique condition. Sponge decoration clear and well-preserved. Shows natural age-related patina consistent with use.

Care & display

Hand wash only with mild soap and warm water. Not suitable for dishwasher or microwave. Handle with care, old ceramics are more fragile than modern pieces. Display on open shelving or a kitchen counter where the character of the piece can be appreciated.