HOMER LAUGHLIN OHIO SPONGEWARE BLUE PLATE C. 1976

This Spongeware/Spatterware Plate is a copy of the Early
Spongeware/Spatterware Pottery that was produced during the 1830-1930 Period in USA & Great Britain.

This plate was manufactured by the famous and well known Homer Laughlin China Company, Ohio, USA 1976 (as is stamped on the back). It measures 10 1/2" Diameter.

COMMENT: This is a great decorative that is inductive of a country décor theme. It works well with Primitives & Primitive Furniture. This is not an original and is not priced as such. Earlier pieces are fetching premium prices, even for very small pieces.

CONDITION:   Excellent!

ORIGINS OF SPONGEWARE/SPATTERWARE

The terms “Spongeware” & “Spatterware” are used interchangeably by many collectors and dealers. Originally the term “Spongeware” was reserved for a type of decoration that was applied to pottery whereas the term “Spatterware” was reserved for a type of decoration that was applied to tin (metal) ware. However, over the years, because the type of decoration and technique of application is the same, we have grown to accept both terminologies to mean the same because of its application technique. Technically they are different.

Spongeware or Spatterware was first introduced as a technique of decorating pottery for nearly two hundred years in Great Britain and parts of the United States. Designs were hand transferred from copper plates then touched up by hand. Hence the term “hand painted” comes into play. Little dashes of various color paint were also applied by “sponge” technique in addition to any designs that may have been previously applied either by stenciling or transfer. The technique is also called “stick-sponge” or “stick-spatter”, because it is believed that the sponge might have been affixed to the end of a short stick to facilitate quick repeated stampings.

These forms of ware were rustic and somewhat crude in origin, many of which depicted rural life with “animal themes” such as birds, cattle (cows, sheep, goats, etc) and other pastoral themes with little children in the foreground or women or farmers doing a daily chore. Many times these themes were accentuated with naively hand painted botanical floral scenes. After all, this pottery was first produced for the masses and or common folk. Because of the folk lore associated with it, it today has escalated to the advanced collector who wishes to preserve history and its humble beginnings.

Marshall Pottery of Scotland, just to name one Scottish pottery company, literally churned out tons of the stuff. As well Adams factory of England contributed there share to the marketplace. When many of these pieces were imported into Quebec, Canada in the 1860s onward, the country folk loved it so much that they tried to lay ownership to it by naming the shipments “Port Neuf” which is a region in Quebec countryside.

Consequently today many of these pieces of imported pottery are sold under the guise of “Port Neuf” Pottery. Petrius Regout of Maastricht, Holland was also known to have made such a product to compete against his English competitors. As for USA potteries, Bennington, Vermont was renowned for such wares amongst other American factories. Don’t forget Red Wing Pottery, Minnesota or Monnmouth Pottery Illinois! These are just to name several of the big boys who produced such wares.

The jest of the whole craze was that this was very “folk art” and had a mass appeal because of its bright colors, naiveté, charm of subject depicted and earthy warmth to touch and visualize.

Most of this pottery after 1870s that was produced was executed on a very porous clay medium and seldom on an “Ironstone” medium. Many of the earlier pieces were decorated on a “Stoneware” medium such as crocks, jars and jugs. The later periods of production were executed on an earthenware body or medium that many factories referred to as “Semi-Porcelain”. Many of these pieces were very utilitarian and as a result would have a tendency to stain easily or crack. This is why that when we see this product it is usually in poor looking shape.