Recently, I’ve discovered a formal finish for pottery that has a distinctly informal name: “spatterware” aka “spongeware”. It’s akin to the once chic method of pattern making on ceilings with some kind of faux finish.
Spatterware has its origins in the UK in the 18th century and traveled across the Atlantic to debut in the US. Many of the Early American pottery pieces used some form of spatter as a border or background for various single images.
I found a heavyweight butter urn with an intense blue spatter design and have it up at Ebay. It pictures a male and female couple, holding hands with backs facing their audience. They are dressed in what looks like Pennsylvania Dutch attire. Here’s a peek.
This is not likely to be an antique. It has the feel of a more contemporary creation in the style of the original blue-and-white spatterware. This is most likely stoneware, based on its weight. Here’s another view.
What’s amazing to me is that the interior is also blessed with this pattern as shown here.
The image looks like it is hand-painted simply because there are strokes seen in the images from a paint brush. It’s difficult to catch these variations on film but I’ve tried just the same.
Visit my store if this catches your eye. I’m on Ebay as Sunshine State Vintage and More.
