"Y" is for Yellow Ware - and I love it! England was a major exporter of yellow ware in the early 1800's. It wasn't long though before America began producing our own type of yellow ware along the East Coast. States such as New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania were centers for developing potteries. With the Western advancement, Ohio soon followed.
Yellow ware is defined as "sturdier than redware and less dense than stoneware." (from Collecting Yellow Ware by McAllister & Michel)
I have a small collection of yellow ware - all bowls. I don't know how I got started on bowls, but they have long held a place dear to my heart. What did the original owner mix in them...bread dough, cakes, jams, pie fillings or pickle relishes? Each bowl has a secret story - how did it get that little chip on the edge or a thin crack running down the side...was the kitchen a happy place filled with children? Was the woman a farm-wife who woke before dawn to have breakfast on the table for everyone?
Not being a purist, my collection ranges from examples of typical colorations - blue bands, bright lemon yellow glaze, the plain tans...
There is a set of 6 ranging from a 10" diameter down to a 4" diameter bowl...each one collected individually and mismatched in coloration.
They all share the same design of a little girl with a watering can standing in front of a window.
I believe the bowls were premiums found in sacks of flour or sugar during the early 1930's. The bowls came in green (quite coveted I hear and harder to find), a lighter tan or the deeper caramel. The only mark on the bottom of each is "USA."
These bowls and others rest on a heavy shelf which rims our sunroom/dining room. When I asked our builder if he could build something that would hold heavy objects, he outdid himself. He tested the shelving by literally hanging from the edge by his hands...for 15 years, the shelving has held everything we have placed there including heavy crocks. The only problem? I have run out of room!
Be sure to visit all the other "Y" postings over at Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.
Yellow ware is defined as "sturdier than redware and less dense than stoneware." (from Collecting Yellow Ware by McAllister & Michel)
Not being a purist, my collection ranges from examples of typical colorations - blue bands, bright lemon yellow glaze, the plain tans...
These bowls and others rest on a heavy shelf which rims our sunroom/dining room. When I asked our builder if he could build something that would hold heavy objects, he outdid himself. He tested the shelving by literally hanging from the edge by his hands...for 15 years, the shelving has held everything we have placed there including heavy crocks. The only problem? I have run out of room!
Be sure to visit all the other "Y" postings over at Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.
They are beautiful, and such a lovely collection!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection! Very quaint piece of history.
ReplyDeleteReally is beautiful pottery!
ReplyDeleteExcellent! those are very neat and so is the story
ReplyDeleteThat was very interesting. I've seen these bowls in antique shops and have one from my MIL - I guess I'd better get it out and have a better look at it!
ReplyDeleteWay cool! and educational too ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat collection! Would look great in MY house :)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly brightens up the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteIt would take a special shelf to hold those wonderful bowls.
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing your collection of bowls and the history. I have collected Fire King bakeware for years and believe they were also freebies back in their time 1940's. Thanks Pat from Judy C
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful collection.
ReplyDeleteGuess what! I think I like yellow ware, too!!
ReplyDelete=)
it's interesting when one color is harder to find then another. What caused that? Did people prize one color over another? It's always fun to collect and great history lessons there. I love the idea of the same design on the outside. How sweet! {:-Deb
ReplyDeleteOOOOOOHHHHH, YES! I love it too and have the same watering can girls in about 5 sizes. I adore them. The yellow warms my kitchen.
ReplyDeleteSending love,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
I am a big fan of yellow ware too. I do envy your collection!! Nice post! :)
ReplyDeleteI love learning new things and these are new to me. Great choice for the letter Y.
ReplyDeletewow..
ReplyDeletesmiles...
rocking y take.
I did not know about the distinction between these types of pottery. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for stopping by The Simple Life, too.
ReplyDeleteAh, pudding basins. Some of it would also be called Denby ware.
ReplyDeleteI use mine because I can buy a new one in any kitchen shop.
Wow - your following is growing! Great post on your lovely yellow bowls! Chris
ReplyDeleteI adore yellow ware! I have this amazing huge bowl that is covetted by everyone that comes to my house. My kids all fight over it and who gets it 'someday'.
ReplyDeleteYour collection is so fun! I think I need to start collecting more so they can spread out the yellow ware obsession when I'm gone!
Thanks for a lovely link.
And I appreciate the shared knowledge, too!
A+