Late 20th Century Signed American Studio Pottery Floral Oval Serving Platter

Details

Description

A large late twentieth-century American studio-pottery serving platter, circa 1980s–1990s, formed as a substantial oval basin with integral projecting side … Read more A large late twentieth-century American studio-pottery serving platter, circa 1980s–1990s, formed as a substantial oval basin with integral projecting side grips and a raised foot ring. The piece is hand decorated in a restrained cream and dark blue-black palette with an extensive programme of floral, foliate, scroll and palmette-like ornament.

The warm ivory to cream glazed ground is articulated by dark blue-black linework arranged symmetrically across the central field and around the perimeter. The decoration appears to combine incised drawing with raised slip-line application beneath a clear glossy glaze, producing areas where the dark lines stand slightly proud of the surface. The hand-applied irregularity of the ornament distinguishes the platter from mechanically printed or transfer-decorated factory tableware.

The broad oval body is slightly organic in profile rather than mechanically uniform, with two integral lateral grips incorporated directly into the form. The underside is supported by a raised foot ring and carries a faint hand-incised artist signature or inscription. The inscription is presently too indistinct for a responsible transcription or maker attribution and is therefore catalogued as signed, with the artist unidentified.

The decorative vocabulary draws upon European folk ceramics and traditional country pottery while remaining consistent with American studio production of the late twentieth century. The clay body is best described conservatively as glazed ceramic or studio pottery, probably stoneware, as the exposed fabric is insufficient to establish a more precise composition.

Measurements: 2.5 in H × 10.25 in W × 13 in L

Weight: 2 lb

Style: Folk, Rustic, French Country

Origin: United States

Age: Circa 1980s–1990s See less