Denwar ceramic studio Bantu dish set
MCM ceramic dish set produced by the Denwar ceramic studio in California, USA. Purchased from an antique store in Las Vegas, NM between 2011 and 2013. Most of an 8 place setting set in Benin Blue. A couple of pieces are missing. dinner plates salad or bread or dessert plates saucers small bowls coffee cups Five serving bowls (both Benin blue and Thatch) Salt and pepper in Thatch Pepper only in Benin blue Sugar and cream in Benin blue Definitely a few chips and crazing. Not pristine. I'm not itemizing those here. Just know the condition is probably fair at best, because of these. I absolutely adore this set, but rarely use it because I don't want to hand wash, and I have started to wonder if it has some significant value. I have done internet research for years, and believe a set this color, this complete is super rare. Does rare = valuable? Not always. I never see more than a few pieces of Bantu come up for sale at any time, and I have never seen anything for sale in this color. My internet sleuthing has hit a wall. If I'm sitting on a gold mine, maybe I'd like to part with them if there was a buyer. If not, I should use and enjoy them more often. Only included photo of one full place setting, but have 7 complete settings, and most of an 8th.
N/A (mulitiple pieces, see scale in photos)
Other
Yes
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
The internet is great but has its limits...according to the book "Mid-Century Modern Dinnerware: Ak-Sar-Ben Pottery, Denwar Ceramics, Iroquois China Company, Laurel Potteries of California, Royal China Company, Stetson China Company" by Michael Pratt, Denwar Ceramics was a mid-century modern pottery studio based in Costa Mesa, California, active primarily during the 1940s and 1950s.
Founded by Jo and Esther Dendel, the studio produced a distinctive line of dinnerware and decorative ceramics, often marked with “Denwar Calif” on the base. Denwar's pieces are celebrated for their clean, sculptural forms and earthy, speckled glazes. The "Bantu" line, for example, features egg-shaped bowls and plates with a speckled glaze in shades like cola brown, yellow, and gold. These designs reflect the studio's commitment to mid-century modern aesthetics, emphasizing simplicity and organic shapes.
The Dendels' home in Costa Mesa, California, served as both their residence and the Denwar Pottery studio. This space was a testament to their lives as craftsmen of mid-century modern ceramics, blending their personal and professional worlds. The studio's influence continues to be appreciated by collectors and enthusiasts of mid-century modern design.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An assembled 45-piece Denwar Midcentury Modern part dinner service
in the Benin Blue and Thatch patterns, mid 20th Century, comprising:
7 Dinner plates: (four with chips; one with crazing)
7 Salad or dessert plates (3 with small chips; one with repair)
8 small bowls: (four with chips)
7 cups (4 with chips) with 7 saucers (4 with chips)
5 Serving bowls, in two colors (Benin Blue and Thatch), four rounded with one flat side, fifth ovoid (chips to two serving bowls; one repaired).
Cream pitcher (chip to handle) and sugar bowl
Salt and pepper
DIMENSIONS: various
CONDITION: With some use wear (chips, repairs and crazing specified above)
PROVENANCE: Purchased from a Las Vegas Antiques store between 2011 and 2015
$ 500-800 for the assembled set*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
Isnt' the book great?
How many pieces have chips, repairs and crazing?
Once I have that I expect to be able to finish this appraisal ASAP.
~ Delia
Hi Delia,
I haven't vanished. I have taken photos of some of the chips, and then got busy. I'll get the itemized damage list to you soon.
Thanks,
Rachel
No hurry Rachel, as it happens I'll be away for most of the weekend so realistically wouldn't be able to continue work on this until Sunday at the earliest - take your time!
Four dinner plates have chips, shown in four photos (IMG_8714-IMG_8717).
Only one dinner plate has crazing (IMG_8714).
Four small bowls have chips (shown in a single photo, IMG_8698).
The handle of the creamer has a chip (IMG_8699).
Two of the serving bowls have chips: One "repaired" (IMG_8700 and IMG_8701) and one not (IMG_8702).
Four cups have chips (IMG_8703-IMG_8706).
Three salad plates have small chips (IMG_8707), and one has a larger "repair" (IMG_8708-IMG_8710).
Four saucers have chips (IMG_8711).
Thank you, I appreciate your time!
Rachel
My pleasure - we appreciate your business!
Delia
Hi Delia,
Thanks for your message. I actually have that book!
It was good for me to count, as I only have one item with all 8.
Here's the breakdown:
Dinner plates: 7
Salad (?) plates: 7
small bowls: 8
saucers: 7
cups: 7
Serving bowls total 5, as seen in the photos. Two colors, three styles.
Cream and sugar
Salt and pepper as seen in photos
Again, there are chips, both repaired and not, and crazing, so I would expect these to be on the low end of any range.
Best.
Rachel