1982 Redware Glazed Sgraffito Decorated Round 10 3/8" Plate Country House By Lester Breininger
Description: A nice size glazed and sgraffito decorated redware shallow large plate. The plate has a slightly rounded base with flared rounded sides rising to a coggled rim. The plate is decorated with a sgraffito design consisting of a house with a chimney with a pine tree on the right and a large tree to the left, There are tulips in front of the house as well as a couple of birds (chickens?) in the yard in front of the house. There is a fence and in the front and smoke coming out of the chimney. There is even a couple of birds flying near the smoke and the outline of clouds in the sky. The yellow plate has green (copper oxide) highlights for the grass and the leaves on the trees. A very nice design and a plate made in the best Pennsylvania Dutch tradition by the master himself. It is signed B & L Breininger for Barbara and Lester Breininger. These were made by the master himself with the help of his wife Barbara before he hired assistants to do much of the work for him. This style of decoration is very much in the Pennsylvania Dutch style common in southeastern Pennsylvania specifically in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Lancaster counties. The plate is glazed on the inside but not on the back. The unglazed back has the characteristic color of unglazed redware and is signed by the artist. Please carefully view photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: February 2, 1982.
Origin: Robesonia, Pennsylvania.
Size: Measures ~10 3/8" in diameter on top and is 1 1/2" high. The piece weighs a little over two pounds and 2 ounces.
Maker: Lester Breininger.
Marks: Marked "TM; B&L Breininger; Robesonia; incised Keystone having the inscription PA within it surrounded by the date 2-2 1982; 30o, The ground hog saw its shadow-6 MOR WEEK of winter!" on bottom in print calligraphy.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: A beautiful and early piece by a contemporary master potter with the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. This is an old Breininger piece, made by Lester himself with the help of his wife Barbara in 1982. These of course are not very common and are becoming very desirable. A beautiful redware piece, which deserves a prominent spot in your redware collection.
Condition: Plate is in good condition, given it is about 36 years old. It has no cracks, repairs, or hairlines. The plate does have general crazing to the glaze and one small chip to the glaze at the edge of the plate (see first two photos at 9:00 o'clock) . In addition, the plate has a few of the usual defects you would expect with all these primitive redware pieces such as pops, slubs, unglazed areas and uneven spots. However, this plate has a minimum number of these, which are hardly noticeable and do not interfere with its beauty or quality. Please see photos for additional condition information and to appreciate the beauty of this piece.
