I have a serving bowl, about 9 ” across at the widest part of the lip. It is marked on the reverse with a beehive looking symbol in blue and “AUSTRIA” also in blue. It has a raised and unglazed bottom rim.
In the well of the bowl is a hand painted (?) image of three women in flowing gauzy attire and with cherubs about them, against a soft white background with the palest of blue clouds upon which the women are seated. It is signed “Carl Larsen”. There are several finely traced crack marks which, while visible, cannot be felt at all so I don’t think the bowl was ever actually broken. These are in the well of the bowl but do not mar any of the faces therein painted. My question mark after describing the bowl as hand painted refers to my lack of knowledge as to whether an artist ever painted a background (the clouds) for a transfer (the women and cherubs) to be placed upon.
As the well of the bowl rises to the lip, there is a 5/8 ” band of gold above which is a 4″ field of dark emerald green with a gold lattice and foliage design. There is tiny beading both within the gold band, along both edges, and within the latticework.
I am intrigued by the artist and would appreciate learning more about him. Could he have been the painter of interiors by the same name? Further, how old would you estimate the bowl to be and of what, if any, value might it have?
Freidrich is an expert in pottery and porcelain from that area ! Many do not know that the beehive is a shield mark ! Likely the previous owner was not fooled ! Earlier pieces similar to this may have been premiums when purchasing foods ! It was a common practice and promoted sales ! I am old enough to remember these things !