Carpet Bowls

[Steph]

(click pix to enlarge)

If I have anything to say about any carpet bowls beyond what the sellers of the bowls said in their descriptions, most likely it will come from Paul Baumann's, Collecting Antique Marbles: Identification and Price Guide, 4th ed (2004). (the same book the Marquee Marble auction refers to below)

Marquee Marble's auction description:

Complete Set of 12 "Carpet Bowls" -* Here's a fabulous find that is rarely found as a complete set. Twelve "bowls" total with two different designs utilized, all of them are authentic measuring 3-1/4" to 3-3/8" in diameter and having a weight to size ratio of 32 to 33 grams per cubic inch which is well within the specifications of Paul Baumann's formula outlined in his recent book

"Collecting Antique Marbles 4th Edition"

The two patterns used are the "crosslined" seen in the two examples each having colors of black, red, and cocoa brown ,while the other pattern seen in two each of red, black, and brown, is commonly referred to as "crown". All of them have a nice white base with some crazing within the glaze, all have little quirks in their design like thin or thicker lines, crown patterns layed on top of each other, darker or lighter colors on the same bowl, and other nuances that these vintage examples are known for. Basically you'll find them to be in Mint to Mint minus condition with a nice wet sheen, a couple of the crosslined examples have hits from play that would lower their grade to Near Mint and Near Mint plus. We guarantee you'll be pleased with this premium complete set that will be the envy of your collector buddies!

Estimated Value 600-1200 dollars.

(winning bid was $350)

Individually Baumann estimates the value of the crosslined bowls to be $140 each and the crown bowls to be $160 each. He says the crown is the most common sponge-printed style. But among striped pattern bowls, "plaid" would be more common than crosslined.

Bob Block calls the next two "mochaware". The closest I find to these in Baumann is what he terms "agateware". Baumann estimates the value of his examples at around $250 and says:

Bowls made using agateware manufacturing techniques are uncommon but not vanishingly rare.

Auction description:

Mochaware. Very rare mochaware carpet ball. White, black and brown. Extremely hard to find. England, circa 1860-1900. 2-5/8".

(At the time of this writing, the asking price for this bowl is $299.)

And here's a larger yet more delicate example.

Description:

Mochaware. Very rare mochaware carpet ball. White, black and brown. Extremely hard to find. England, circa 1860-1900. 3".

(Asking price: $325)

[Steph]

Here's a different kind of bowl, a "jack". It's from a UK seller.

(click to enlarge)

Auction description:

A rare ceramic jack or kittie with merchandiser's trademark. it is in good condition with very few slight knocks. As it was found with a number of Scottish carpet bowls My guess is how this jack was used.

Here's what Baumann says about jacks:

Jacks or kitties, the "targets" at which the other bowls were rolled during carpet bowl games, are solid white and infrequently feature a merchandiser's trademark. Trademarks, which are fairly rare, enhance a jack's collectible value. Sometimes a single jack includes the merchandiser's name plus a separate trademark elsewhere on the bowl, such as Taylor-Rolph's "IMP" trademark. Trademarks vary depending on age. For instance, teh Taylor-Rolph jack with the "Made in England" mark applied below the "IMP" mark are newer than similar jacks without it.

Baumann's estimated value for an F. H. Ayres jack is $150.