Meet the mother of all berry bowls...

{HISTORY}

Made during the 19th century, this antique square serving bowl contains so many interesting details. Unique in shape and size, it is handpainted with a colorful berry bush sprig in a rainbow of complimentary shades. 

Most likely intended for serving large quantities of freshly picked blackberries or raspberries, it would have originally been accompanied by a matching set of smaller handpainted dessert bowls in the same style. Imagine what an eye-catching display this would have made at the table with berries piled high in each. 

With every type of food beautifully displayed on a specific style dish made especially for each food, the Victorian table held a plethora of dishes way beyond just plates and cups and bowls. Mustard had its petite mustard pot, celery had its unique, oblong dish, bones had a crescent-style holder, butter pat were held in little ceramic squares, salt in miniature bowls, etc. not to miss out on the fun, berries had their own bowl too. And here it is  -  a big square dish ideally sized for the communal table.

In addition to the handpainted botanical in the center, this dish also features gold roses outlined on all four sides of the interior rim and an embossed shoulder with ladyfinger- type impressions all the way around the scalloped edge.  Thin gold stripes at each corner and around the middle of the interior complete the overall design.

Marked with just the number 149 handwritten below the glaze on the back of the dish, we are left to guess as to who exactly made this beautiful bowl. 149 could be the shape number, pattern number or mold number. It could also be the number of the decorator who painted the botanical or the date code in which it was made (January 1849).  Uncertainties aside, the colorful palette of grape, raspberry, teal, pine green, gold, avocado, chocolate, evergreen, chartreuse, apricot, dove grey, mint green, turquoise and Mediterranean sea green make it an eye-catching display piece even if all the particulars of when and where it came from remain a mystery. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Porcelain
• Marked on back with the number 149
• Large size

{CONDITION}

In lovely antique condition. There are no chips, cracks, spots, or stains except for a very small, very light stress crack on the backside of the dish. These stress cracks occur when a dish is set down on a tabletop or counter just a little too hard. The crack does not carry through to the front side of the dish and affects the integrity of the overall composition in no way.  The gold around the interior rim is wearing in some spots. The handpainted berry botanical is bright, crisp, and clear. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 9.5" inches (length)  x 9.5" inches (width)  x 2.75" inches (height) and weighs just under 3 lbs.