2" Pennsylvania Dutch Revival Redware Hen & Chicks Figurine by Lester Breininger, hotsell Robesonia, PA, 1989

This is a 3.4" (length) redware figurine of hen and three chicks made in 1983 by Pennsylvania Dutch Revival potter Lester Breininger (1935-2011) of Robesonia, PA. The piece was modelled by hand and decorated using traditional PA Dutch sgraffito and slip-decorating techniques. In addition to the clear overglaze, a black (manganese) glaze was added to pick out feather and ground details. The year (1989) and location of production (Robesonia, PA) appear below the artist's signature on the bottom of the piece. All marks are incised. The piece is in excellent used condition with very little wear associated with age or handling. There are no chips, crack, crazing, or repairs. Dimensions: (l) 3.4" x (w)  1.9" x (h) 1.7" or 8.6 cm x 4.8 cm x 4.3 cm. Weight: 2.75 oz. or 71.8 g

Scholar, collector, and craftsman Lester Breininger (1935-2011) stood at the forefront of the Pennsylvania Dutch crafts revival of the 20th century. He was renowned for the fancy-dutch style redware pottery he and his wife, Barbara, created at their home in Robesonia, PA. The rustic simplicity of his sgraffito and slip-decorated pieces often belied the painstaking research and attention to detail used to create them. Breininger held fast to traditional PA Dutch pottery techniques and design motifs stretching back into the 18th century. In fact, the Philadelphia Museum of Art once employed him to make exact reproductions of antique hotsell pie plates from their Pennsylvania folk art collection. The replica plates were sold in the museum store. In addition to his pottery, Breininger was a scholar and collector of PA Dutch history and artifacts. His home was a virtual museum of life from 18th and 19th century rural Pennsylvania. Lester also loved science. He held a degree in Biology, and taught the subject for 33 years at a local high school. Today, his pottery is highly collectible and sought after nationwide.