Ash Burl Bowl
With Exceedingly Rare
Signature of the Maker. 

Boston, ca. late 18th century.

Signed underneath “I HOWE”, the ‘I’ likely representing ‘J’ (as was then the norm). John Howe father and son were “turners and cabinet makers” working on Back Street in Boston’s North End from 1796-1800—they surely turned this bowl. Back Street was a bustling center where master craftsmen worked wood into objects of beauty and function.

During the Revolution John Howe Sr (1738-1823) and his wife fled to Sudbury, remaining at the Howe Tavern (now known as Longfellow’s Wayside Inn) until the British evacuated Boston. John was a Revolutionary War officer and member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts, which served to provide well-trained militia officers to fight in the Revolution. He also may have been a juror at the inquest of Crispus Attucks, a victim of the Boston Massacre.

Beautiful classic form with crisply stepped base and rim. Stoutly turned with subtle beehive tooling. Mint condition with warm nut-brown patina. About 6 3/8 inch diameter x 2 5/8 tall. Having been in a collection for some 40 years, now a new prize for the collector of colonial America.

I have not previously seen an American burl bowl signed by the maker!