Folk Art Stoneware Dish

An early piece by well-known Michigan potter Carole Berhorst, this charming dish features a hand painted scene of a country cabin by a lone tree, surrounded by a sponge-decorated rim, all in blue. Made of speckled, heavy stoneware clay, with the potter's finger marks evident, the dish bears out Ms. Berhorst's description of her work as "whimsical to earthy." She began creating pottery full-time after leaving her practice as a psychologist; her works are displayed at pottery shows and art fairs throughout Michigan. We've shown her photo is in the last frame.

This dish (it's not a flat plate) measures a little over 9 inches in diameter, stands about 2 inches high and weighs almost 2 pounds. It's in very good condition, having just a tiny chip on the front rim, which was done in the firing, as it has the final glossy clear coat on it. You can see it on the raised outer edge, slightly below the center right, especially if you use the zoom feature. There are no other chips, no cracks and no stains. The back is not decorated, having just the clear top glaze except on the foot ring, and it's signed "Carole 1991" in incised script. It's a delightful dish to add to a stoneware or spongeware collection and a great country piece.

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PYH 4546