1991 Glazed Redware Heavy Figurine Yellow Bird with Sgraffito Decoration by Lester Breininger
Description: This is a 1991 very unusual redware yellow glazed figurine of a bird laying down and having sgraffito decoration through out. The bird is laying down and has a flat base. Its tail is fanned and extends beyond the base. The bird has sgraffito lines outlining the feathers, the wings, the comb on top of its head, the eyes and a mouth with nostrils above it at the end of its beak. The piece has nice glazing and yellow coloring with green sponged highlights indicative of copper oxide. This beautiful glazed redware figurine was made in the studios of Lester Breininger a master potter with Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. It is fairly substantial and weighs almost one pound. Very unusual and interesting piece of Pennsylvania redware. Please see photo to appreciate the beautiful design and colors. The bottom of the figurine is marked as to the maker and the date the piece was made. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: 1991.
Origin: Robesonia, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Size: The figurine is ~7 1/2" long, is ~2 1/2" at its widest, and is ~4 1/8" at its highest. The piece weighs ~1 pound.
Maker: Lester Breininger.
Marks: Marked "Breininger Pottery 1991 PA" in black under-glaze on the base of the piece.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: This is a very nice Breininger piece with a typical Pennsylvania Dutch shape, look, and colors made in the studios of a Master potter with the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Needless to say Mr. Breininger has passed away in December 2011 and his pottery has become highly desirable. Condition: The figurine is in very good condition with no cracks, no repairs, or hairlines. We carefully examined the piece with a 10X magnifying loop and were unable to see any signs of crazing to the glaze, but such a heavy piece of this age should have some signs of crazing, thus the absence of crazing is very unusual. The piece has some of the normal defects you would expect in a piece of primitive pottery of this type such as spots where the glaze did not fully flow, pops, slubs, and surface roughness. This particular piece has a minimum of these issues. Be that as it may, the piece is solid and intact and would make a great addition to your collection. Please see photos for additional condition information.
