Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A classic American stoneware mixing bowl featuring a distinctive ribbed or 'banded' exterior and a rich, mottled saffron-yellow glaze. This heavy-duty utilitarian piece was designed for the rigors of a pre-electric kitchen, built to withstand heavy whisking and temperature changes.
Story
Monmouth, Illinois, sat atop a massive vein of high-quality clay, turning a small town into the stoneware capital of the Midwest. This bowl survived decades of bread-kneading and cake-mixing through the Great Depression.
Maker / Origin
Founded in 1892, Monmouth Pottery was famous for its 'Maple Leaf' mark and its incredibly durable salt-glazed and bristol-glazed wares. In 1906, it merged with several other companies to form the massive Western Stoneware Company, though the Monmouth name remained legendary for quality.
Condition & Value
The bowl appears to have a consistent glaze with some typical 'stilt marks' or kiln pops from manufacturing. No large cracks are visible, though the rim shows minor shelf wear. Excellent structural integrity preserves most of the value. Value is driven by the size of the bowl and the vibrancy of the glaze.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.