From: Gary Tefft / locustent@aol.com
Location: Menomonee Falls,WI
Date: 26 Sep 1998
Time: 19:59:37
I think that I have revealed on this site that cap bowls are one of the specialities that Bonnie and I have paid attention to over the years. The blue band variety is uncommon, I don't know whether I'd call it rare. In truth, I suppose I've seen other pieces that "everybody" seems to call "rare" more frequently than I've seen these, so maybe it's just that I have an aversion to using the word "rare", since it is so overused in collector circles. An important distinction, in my opinion, is "desirability". Even though the blue-banded cap bowl may be no more frequently found than a grey line piece for example, it is not as desirable in the market. If you are a "true-blue" collector, the rarity or popular desirability of a piece has only a secondary effect on your decision to collect it; you buy it because it pleases you. I should also say that this is the type of thing that people call a "Sleeper". Suddenly, others become aware that there is a facinating variety to something that they have passed up before, like cap bowls and once everbody wants them they become known as "rare".
The same thing goes for the 5-inch cap bowl in white (actually, yellowy cream, as you point out). I believe that there is one of these cream-colored 5-inch cap bowls complete with a cream-colored lid shown in the Gallery section of this site. We have both the cream-colored 7-inch and 5-inch varieties, with lids in our collection. While we've seen the 7-inch lids in the usual sponge as well as cream, we've never seen the 5-inch size in anything but cream.
I too have seen the orange variety of grey line pitcher, as well as the grey line beater jar. This is another "sleeper", I'd say.
What other color varieties have I seen? There are all blue cap bowls. and of course the blue-tint grey line. If I were to include the varieties I've seen in art pottery, this would be a very long answer.
-Gary-