1979 Redware Glazed Footed Colander Platter Sgraffito Distelfink Tulip Marked DG
Description: A beautiful, colorful, and rather unusual redware footed colander platter. This glazed platter has holes along the entire periphery of the platter below the rim to drain the contents and hence the reference to colander. It also has four short feet to keep the plater off the surface to facilitate the draining. The glazed piece is sgraffito decorated with a typical Pennsylvania German motif depicting two distelfink birds perched on the branches of a central tulip flower. The birds are standing opposite from each other but facing backwards. There are additional tulips behind the birds. The entire scene is framed with a blue colored fan like repeating design then a solid brown flowed by a white colored plain rim. The design on the plate is very colorful and has yellow, red, brown, blue, and green colors throughout. The back of the plate is glazed with brown coloring and has makings incised in cursive calligraphy which says "Colander Platter /Love/Happiness /Opportunity/ DG/ Oct. 3, 1979/cool day*". A very nice and unusual platter with a nice and very colorful Pennsylvania Dutch design. The plate is signed and dated by the artist. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: The plate is dated 1979.
Origin: Purchased at a country auction in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Size: Measures ~11 1/2" by ~9 1/8" and is ~1 3/4"heigh. The piece weighs 1 pound and 12 ounces.
Maker: Unknown
Marks: Marked on the bottom cursive calligraphy which says "Colander Platter /Love/Happiness /Opportunity/ DG/ Oct. 3, 1979/cool day*".
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: This is a beautiful redware plate with unusual shape and very decorative and colorful design. It is rather substantial and weighs almost 1 pound and 12 ounces. A definite beauty deserving of a prominent spot in any redware collection.
Condition: Platter is in very good condition. It has no cracks, no repairs, and no hairlines. Close inspection of the plate did not identify crazing to the glaze. It also has a few of the usual defects you would expect with all these primitive redware pieces such as pops, slubs, unglazed areas, slip error, and uneven spots. These are at a minimum for this plate and are original to the making. These do not distract from the plate's beauty or quality. Please see photos for additional condition information.
