Faience Pottery Appraisal

Faience Style Decorative Bowl

This is a round, shallow ceramic bowl, likely earthenware or faience, featuring a hand-painted decorative scheme. The base color of the interior is a creamy off-white or very light blue, suggesting a glazed surface. The rim of the bowl is adorned with two concentric bands: an outer solid dark blue band, approximately 1 cm wide, followed by an inner thinner band (around 0.5 cm wide) in a reddish-brown or rust color, executed with a distinctive wavy or zig-zag pattern. The interior of the bowl is sparsely decorated with several individual, stylized floral or leaf motifs. Each motif consists of two or three small, tear-drop or spatulate shapes that converge, with various color combinations including dark blue, yellowish-orange, and reddish-brown, often with a central dot or stem. The painting style appears rustic and somewhat naive, indicating a handcrafted origin rather than mass production. The brushstrokes are visible, adding to its artisanal charm. There are no overt signs of damage such as chips, cracks, or repairs visible in the provided image. The glaze appears consistent, though subtle variations in color or texture might exist due to the handmade nature. Given the additional context 'Le rouennier,' this bowl strongly suggests a Faience de Rouen style, originating from Rouen, France, which is known for its distinct decorative patterns and quality craftsmanship, typically produced from the 17th to 19th centuries, but revived in later periods. The quality of craftsmanship appears to be good for a hand-decorated piece of its kind, with clear lines and consistent color application within the decorative elements, although minor imperfections inherent to pottery making may be present upon closer inspection.