Painted Beehive Bowl
Rare Threaded Repair        

New England, ca. 18th century.
Historic surface of original dry red paint on maple covered with what appears to be a combination of black paint and accretions from long-time use at the hearth. The combination of paint and accretions gives the bowl a unique time-worn complex surface with exceptional character. The interest and value are amplified by threaded repair across an ancient break, mended long ago using layers of thin cord, probably cotton, threaded many times through paired holes and knotted, a remarkable example of early ingenuity showing both the artistry and resourcefulness of 18th century New England.
An excellent example of the beehive form, this bowl has a molded and chamfered rim, is footed, and shows widely-spaced slow-lathe tool marks between prominent beehive “ribs”.
With strong shrinkage across the grain, this medium-sized bowl has a diameter of about 13 7/8 x 13 3/8 inches and about 5 inches tall.