Jazz Bowl

This striking punch bowl, a vibrant Egyptian blue, captures the frenetic energy of New York City's Jazz Age. Its surface is alive with scratched lines, revealing the lighter clay beneath the dark glaze in a technique called sgraffito. Look closely, and you'll see a dynamic panorama of skyscrapers, taxis, and musicians, all rendered in a rhythmic, almost syncopated style that perfectly embodies the era's soundtrack. Originally commissioned by Eleanor Roosevelt as a gift for her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, to celebrate his re-election as governor of New York, this piece quickly became an icon. The Cowan Pottery company, impressed by its design, put the "Jazz Bowl" into production, allowing more people to bring a piece of New York nightlife into their homes.