ROCKINGHAM LARGE RIBBED BOWL American Pottery Circa 1880 - 1900

This is a lovely example of LARGE RIBBED ROUND BOWL.  It is covered with a light random splattered application of a ROCKINGHAM glaze in a light butterscotch caramel glaze.

Ribs are random sizes measuring approximately 1” to 1 ½”wide.  Measures 9 ½” wide and ranges in height from 3 ⅛" to 3 ¼” tall and weighs three pounds.  The lopsided dimensions of the bowl are more noticeable in the photo because of the camera angle.

The piece is in great condition. However, there are multiple glaze bubbles or blisters in various sizes throughout the bowl. A bubble inside the bowl looks somewhat like a chip--but it's just a cracked bubble. In today's world, the piece may have been discarded by the potter and considered flawed because of the glaze bubbles and the varying height, but in decades prior, the flaws were overlooked and forgiven.  They were considered just part of the manufacturing process. 

About Rockingham: In the United States, is a primarily a yellowware pottery with a brown glaze that resembles tortoiseshell. It was made from 1840 to 1900 by many American potteries.  Colors range from butterscotch, caramel, light reddish brown, to dark reddish brown.  Often the glazed appears to be sponged or splattered on the pottery but it can often be found in a dark brown glaze completely covering piece. Following its introduction in 1840, it became a preferred pottery for the kitchen over redware because of its durability.