Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A charming, vibrant yellow glazed ceramic serving bowl specifically designed for olives, featuring embossed lettering and dual handles. Made in Italy for the upscale culinary retailer Sur La Table, it captures the rustic elegance of Mediterranean-style entertaining.
Story
Founded in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1972, Sur La Table brought the romance of French and Italian kitchens to American homes. This bowl was crafted in Italy to celebrate the simple Mediterranean ritual of sharing olives before a meal.
Maker / Origin
Sur La Table was established by Shirley Collins, a passionate cook who wanted to make professional-grade, European-style cookware accessible to home chefs. Over the decades, the brand curated high-quality, regional ceramics from European workshops, particularly from Italy and France, to bring authentic culinary traditions to the American table.
Condition & Value
The bowl shows minor signs of shelf wear on the unglazed bottom foot rim, but the yellow glazed surfaces, handles, and interior appear to be free of chips, cracks, or crazing. Excellent condition overall, which helps it retain maximum value for collectors.
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.