Glazed Stoneware Bowl with Incised Base
Ceramic; wheel-thrown functional or decorative vessel • American Studio Potter; possibly signed 'AB' or 'ROB'. Marking exhibits characteristics of mid-market American craft pottery from the coastal or mountain regions.
Style & Movement
Studio Pottery Movement; specifically influenced by the 'Mingei-sota' or Anglo-Oriental traditions common in American university ceramics programs.
Medium & Technique
Stoneware with oxide-rich blue and green glazes; wheel-thrown construction, wax resist or thumbprint glaze application technique, and incised signature/marking on the unglazed base.
Creation Period
Late 20th Century (circa 1970–1990)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 4-6 inches in diameter; circular (tondo) base format.
Subject Description
A functional ceramic vessel featuring a buff-colored, coarse toasted clay body. The exterior is decorated with a variegated blue glaze and green drips over circular resist patterns, exposing the raw clay underneath. The underside shows concentric throwing rings and a handwritten incised mark.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; the piece shows significant structural stress with visible radial cracking on the base.
Estimated Market Value
$40 - $125 USD (depending on identification of the artist)
Auction Estimate
$25 - $75 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired through a craft fair, local gallery, or school sale. No formal gallery labels are present, but the incised marking suggests original artist-to-consumer provenance.
Art Historical Significance
Representative of the democratization of art through the 20th-century craft revival, where functional objects were elevated to sculptural status through expressive glazing and visible hand-construction.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'S' or '8' shaped incised marks alongside initials; vibrant blue-to-green glaze transition; coarse grog texture in the clay body typical of high-fire stoneware.
Condition Issues
Prominent structural crack (kiln crack or impact stress) running through the center of the foot; localized surface staining (likely old adhesive or wax) on the upper left of the base.
Conservation Recommendations
Non-aqueous cleaning of the base to remove adhesive residue. Due to the crack, the piece should be considered decorative rather than food-safe, as bacteria can harbor in ceramic fissures.