Bowl 1803 - 1867

This earthenware bowl was made by Hervey Brooks, a 19th-century potter who lived and worked in Goshen, Connecticut. His story offers a glimpse into the lives of early American artisans. Brooks's pottery was part of a larger tradition, where potters often came from families who passed down their knowledge through generations. The design shows a blend of utility and artistry. Made from readily available materials, such as local clay, the bowl's decoration features a sgraffito technique, in which layers of colored slip are scratched to reveal an underlying color. This decoration speaks to the tension between function and aesthetics in early American craft. While Brooks's story may seem distant, it speaks to broader questions about labor, creativity, and the role of craft in everyday life. It invites us to reflect on how objects, even the most humble ones, carry within them stories of the people who made them and the world they inhabited.