Harker Pottery 'Gadroon' Dinner Plate
Ceramic; functional dinnerware tableware • Harker Pottery Company (East Liverpool, Ohio)
Style & Movement
Mid-Century American Pottery; Traditional/Classical Revival Decorative Arts
Medium & Technique
Glazed semi-vitreous earthenware (ironstone) produced via industrial slip casting or jiggering with a molded gadroon-style border
Creation Period
Circa 1940s-1950s
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 9 to 10 inches in diameter; circular format with decorative molded edge
Subject Description
A utilitarian dinner plate featuring a monochromatic light blue/gray glaze. The primary decorative element is a molded 'gadroon' or rope-style embossed rim, a classical motif popularized in silver and ceramic design during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing typical signs of domestic use including surface utensil marks and minor glaze variations
Estimated Market Value
$10 - $25 USD
Auction Estimate
$5 - $15 USD (typically sold in larger sets for $50-$150)
Provenance History
Mass-produced American tableware likely sold through department stores or catalogs, originally part of a larger dinnerware service
Art Historical Significance
Represents the industrial output of the Harker Pottery Company, which was the oldest pottery in the United States at the time of its closure in 1972. The piece reflects the mid-20th-century trend of 'semi-vitreous' dinnerware designed for affordable American middle-class households.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'Gadroon' edge pattern which was one of Harker's more formal and enduringly popular embossed designs
Condition Issues
Visible surface scratches (utensil marks), possible shelf wear on the foot ring, and minor localized crazing common in earthenware of this age
Conservation Recommendations
Hand wash only; avoid abrasive cleaners and microwave use to prevent further crazing or glaze degradation
Collector Notes
Harker