2002 Redware Large Pie Plate Glazed With Sgraffito Decoration Pennsylvania Dutch Tulip and Heart By Lester Breininger
Description: A very nice large (10 1/2") glazed plate with sgraffito decoration showing tulips rising from a heart by Lester Breininger. This plate, which has what we would characterize as very much in the best Pennsylvania Dutch tradition design, was made to commemorate the nuptials of Beatrice and Ethan on October 6, 2001. It has a yellow colored background with green splotches (copper oxide) as decorative highlights throughout the sgraffito decoration. The center shows a tulip plant with three bulbs emanating from a heart, with other floral decoration surrounding the heart. The image is framed with a circle that is about an inch to the inside of the plain rim. The edge of the plate is decorated with the words Beatrice and Ethan October 6, 2001 and then has wavy decoration to fill in the spaces. There are green splotches as highlights throughout. The plate has a round and slightly flat base which flares up with slightly rounded sides ending in the plain rim (although we view the rim as being plain, one could see signs of attempted coggling in some spots, but these are very light). The bottom of the plate is unglazed and shows the usual coloring of unglazed redware. It has very classic Pennsylvania Dutch colors with a purely Pennsylvania German design. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: October 24, 2002.
Origin: Robesonia, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Size: 10 1/2" diameter and is ~1 3/4" high. The piece weighs over 2 pounds.
Maker: Lester Breininger.
Marks: "Breininger Pottery; Robesonia, Pa; October 24, 2002; Cloudy" in cursive calligraphy incised on the base.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: This is a nice plate with a nice and classic shape and coloring made in the studios of a master potter with the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage who recently died.
Condition: Plate is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, hairlines, or repairs. It does have general crazing to the glaze, which gives this beautiful and unusual plate a great character. In addition, the plate has some spots within the brown of the tulips, where the brown coloring did not completely cover the yellow under it. These can clearly be seen in the first photo. finally, the plate has a spot at about 4 O'clock (on the 1 in 2001), where there are remnants of brown coloring lightly showing over the yellow and looks like dirt, but is not and is actually original to the making. Please see photos to appreciate beauty and condition of this beautiful piece.
In Closing: This is a beautiful plate made in the studios of Lester Breininger who died in December 2011. The plate would make a nice addition to your collection of contemporary redware or art pottery.
