Enamelware BAVARIAN DECORATED BOWL AND PITCHER WASH SET Circa 1885

Featuring a lovely antique ENAMELWARE BOWL AND PITCHER WASH SET by Gebrüder Baumann.  Baumann founded in 1872 by three brothers, Georg, Christian and Johann Baumann, was located in Amberg, a town in Bavaria, Germany.

The bottom of each piece is marked with an early mark by Gebrüder Baumann--a rampant lion holding a tankard with a capital 'B'. Based on the mark, the set is circa 1885.  Included in the photos is an image from the Baumann family's historical web site showing the mark.

The set is white enamelware decorated with deep blue cornflowers and daisies with blue trimmed rims. The handles of the pitchers are riveted.  Baumann discontinued riveting in 1903 and replaced it with spot welding.

Included in the set is a bowl, large boudoir pitcher, a water pitcher, and a two-part soap dish:

1. Wash Bowl: The large wash bowl or basin is decorated with a 3” x 5” cornflower and daisy bouquet on two sides. The rim is trimmed with blue. Blue and gold stripes encircle the outside of the bowl. The piece is in great vintage condition and with a few tiny chips on the rims. The bowl measures 4” high and 13 ½” diameter.
2. Large Boudoir Pitcher: The front and sides of the large pitcher are decorated with a 5” x 11” cornflower and daisy bouquet. The rim and handle are trimmed in blue. There is a faint gold stripe encircling the neck of the pitcher. The pitcher is in wonderful vintage condition other than there is a residue in the bottom that feels like wax. I have not attempted to remove it. The pitcher measures 9” high by 4 ¼” diameter at base and 8” wide handle to spout.
3. Water Pitcher: The pitcher is decorated with the same 2” x 5” cornflower and daisy bouquet on two sides. The rim and the spout are trimmed in blue. There is a faint gold stripe encircling the neck of the pitcher. The pitcher does have several chips that add to the character of the set, primarily on the handle, inside the rim and on the bottom. The water pitchers measures 5 ¼” high by 4 ½” diameter at mouth and 3” diameter at base.  It is 8” wide handle to spout.
4. Soap Dish: The blue cornflower pattern decorates the inside of the soap dish with the rim edged with a blue stripe. A blue stripe encircles the outside of the small bowl. The dish is in wonderful vintage condition other than drain, which does have rust and chips. The piece measures 1 ¼” high by 4 ¾” diameter.  The dish drain is 3 ⅜” diameter.

The set is in beautiful condition for antique enamelware. Please review pictures carefully as they have been taken from several angles.

The set would make a great addition to someone's French country, shabby chic or farmhouse style decorating!

Gebrüder Baumann Exports to North America

The company began exporting to New York in 1889. Beginning in 1890, Stransky was their distributor to North America. Stransky did so well that Baumann built an extra store house in 1904 and named it the "Stransky Store." By 1904, 10 to 12 railway wagons of Gebrüder Baumann product were shipped to Stransky every month. Gebrüder Baumann continued to export to New York until World War I when international commerce with Germany ceased because of the war.

Enamel & Granite Ware

Enamel ware is made from an old process of coating metal with porcelain, which  became popular in the 1800s.  By the late 1870s, a new form of enamel ware was developed, called "granite ware."  

Granite ware was designed with decorative patterns resembling granite, ranging from mottled, speckled, spatters or swirls. Early granite ware was turquoise blue with white or green. Both enamel and granite ware were used in the production of early kitchen utility ware.