1940s Franciscan Desert Rose Covered Casserole, USA Rare Early Piece

Franciscan Desert Rose (USA) 2.5 Qt Covered Casserole Dish.

Rare early piece with decorator’s mark scratched into the bottom.

This piece has the 1941-1947 USA backstamp: black "Francisan Ware" stamped in a circle; “Made in California USA” in the center of circle; “Hand Decorated” outside of the circle. The earliest pieces from the 1940s production were signed by the decorator scratching their marks into the piece; later pieces had the decorator's number stamped in black ink.

SPECS: Measures 10.0" handle to handle, 4.75" base to top of finial, weight is 2 lb 7 oz. Excellent condition for a piece of this vintage, but there are a number of small manufacturing defects / glazing anomalies: A single 2mm by 4mm "miss" on one handle, several misses on the other handle, one on the rim, and four tiny ones on the finial (possibly fleabites, but they look more like glazing defects to us), please carefully study all of the photos provided.

This particular decorator's brushwork is the nicest that we've ever seen on Franciscan Ware; one of several pieces that we acquired; check our other listings.