Large 19th Century Spanish Hand-Painted Lebrillo Bowl

A wonderful large 19th-century Fajalauza lebrillo bowl, traditionally used in rural households throughout southern Spain. Made from terracotta with a warm cream glaze and beautifully simple hand-painted green decoration, featuring a stylised floral motif in the centre surrounded by concentric decorative bands.

These large earthenware basins, known as lebrillos, have been made in Spain for centuries, particularly in the pottery-producing regions of Granada, Andalusia. They were everyday household essentials, used for everything from kneading bread dough and preparing food to washing clothes. We particularly love the naive quality of the hand-painted decoration, with its wonderfully relaxed, informal style, so typical of traditional Spanish folk pottery.

In good condition for its age, with plenty of historic wear and some wonderful old metal staple repairs, known as 'lanas'.  These were made many years ago to hold the pottery together after it had cracked, rather than simply throwing the bowl away. They are a lovely reminder of a time when everyday objects were valued, carefully repaired and used over and over again. We think these old repairs add enormously to its character and charm.

The painting is by Rafael Latorre, late 19th Century.

Details

• Item: Large antique Spanish lebrillo bowl
• Origin: Spain, probably Andalusia
• Date: 19th century
• Material: Glazed terracotta / earthenware
• Style: Traditional Spanish folk pottery
• Decoration: Hand-painted green floral motif with concentric decorative bands on a warm cream glaze
• Features: Original hand-painted decoration and historic metal staple repairs
• Dimensions: 20.5 cm high × 63 cm diameter
• Condition: Good antique condition, with historic wear, marks, glaze imperfections and old metal staple repairs. The repairs are part of the bowl's history and add to its character.